Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led the funeral prayer for the late Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other senior officials in Tehran today.
Iranian media reported that Hamas’ Qatar-based leader, Ismail Haniyeh, attended the funeral. He conveyed condolences to Iran’s leadership on behalf of Palestinian resistance groups.
The funeral took place three days after the president’s helicopter crashed in heavy fog over mountainous terrain in the Varzaghan region. They had been returning from a dam inauguration near the Azerbaijan border.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the senior members will also leave for a day trip to Iran to offer condolences.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) stated that the bodies of President Raisi and his companions were transferred to Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday after a funeral in Tabriz.
The president was accompanied by Supreme Leader’s representative Ali Ale-Hashem, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, two bodyguards, two pilots, and one crew member.
Rescuers found the charred wreckage of the Bell 212 helicopter early Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions. All passengers, including Raisi, died in the crash.
Iran launched an investigation into the crash. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri formed a probe committee led by Brigadier Ali Abdollahi. The findings will be made public.
Iran is currently observing a mourning period following the crash.
