TEHRAN – In a display of international solidarity, high-ranking officials from 68 countries and several international organizations have traveled to Iran to honor the late President and Foreign Minister of Iran, who tragically died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

The incident took place as President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, along with their companions, were returning from an inauguration ceremony in Azerbaijan.

This unprecedented gathering includes representatives from many countries, some making their first official visits to Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

The Iranian government has organized a series of commemorative events to honor the memory of the late president and his deceased companions on the helicopter, drawing a diverse array of international dignitaries to Tehran. The tragic incident has prompted countries to send high-level delegations to the capital.

Among the attendees is Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs. His visit is particularly notable as it marks the first time an Egyptian Foreign Minister has traveled to Tehran in over four decades, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the two countries. Shoukry also had a meeting with Iran’s acting president, Mohammad Mokhber, where the two sides discussed growing opportunities for enhancing bilateral ties between Iran and Egypt.

Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, made a historic visit to Tehran, marking the first time a Tunisian leader has visited the country. President Saied met with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of multiple summits, during which the two agreed to expand cooperation and strengthen ties between Iran and Tunisia.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, attended the funeral of the late Iranian President.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was among the attendees of the funeral ceremony. Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Presidential Adviser for Foreign Ties, and other high-ranking Tajik state officials also arrived in Iran for the ceremony held on May 23 in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, National Leader of Turkmenistan, was also present, emphasizing the strong ties between Turkmenistan and Iran. Additionally, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili attended the funeral.

Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, and the Prime Minister of Syria paid tribute to the late Iranian president, showing their deep respect and condolences.

Vice President and Foreign Minister of Turkey Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister of Cyprus Constantinos Kombos, Foreign Minister and Special Envoy of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic also arrived to express condolences and show support.

Nechirvan Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, came to pay his respects. Other high-ranking attendees included the Special Envoy of Oman, the Special Envoy of Jordan, the Minister and Special Envoy of Nicaragua, the Minister and Special Representative of the Maldives, the Minister and Special Envoy of Malaysia, along with representatives from the Turkish Saadet Party (Felicity Party) and the Turkish Patriotic Party.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan was also present, reflecting Afghanistan's support. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political bureau, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, a leader of the Hamas movement, the spokesperson of Ansarullah of Yemen, and the head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also attended the funeral hall.

The Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly and Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Kazakhstan were also present, showing their respective countries' support.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya traveled to Tehran as the envoy of the Emir of Kuwait, accompanied by a delegation to express condolences and solidarity, marking a significant diplomatic gesture from Kuwait.

From Russia, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the Russian State Duma, arrived to participate in the memorial ceremonies. Lebanon was represented by Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, who arrived with an accompanying delegation.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik also made the journey to Tehran, highlighting Belarus's solidarity with Iran during this period of mourning. 

India sent its Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who led a senior delegation of Indian officials.

Tamaki Tsukada, the Japanese Ambassador to Iran, also paid a visit to the funeral hall, offering condolences to the officials of Iran. These visits collectively represent a moment of international unity and support for Iran during a time of national tragedy.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, and Abdullatif al-Zayani, the foreign minister of Bahrain, also traveled to Iran to convey messages of condolences. 

The attendance of such a diverse group of international leaders underscores the global significance of the late president and foreign minister of Iran and highlights a potential opening for renewed diplomatic engagements with Iran from countries that have had limited relations since the Islamic Revolution. This unprecedented gathering marks a poignant moment in international diplomacy, driven by shared grief and respect for the deceased Iranian officials.