India mourns tragic death of Iran’s President, Foreign Minister

New Delhi, May 21: India is in mourning following the tragic deaths of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash. The Indian national flag was flown at half-mast at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday as the country observed a day of national mourning to honour the deceased Iranian officials.

The Government of India declared a National Day of Mourning on May 21, 2024, to pay tribute to President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian. The national flag was flown at half-mast across all buildings where it is regularly displayed, and no official entertainment took place as a mark of respect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed their condolences. Modi highlighted Raisi’s contributions to India-Iran relations and conveyed India’s solidarity with Iran in this time of grief. Jaishankar recalled his meetings with Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, emphasizing their roles in finalizing a long-term agreement on the Chabahar port, crucial for connectivity between India and Central Asia.

India recently signed a 10-year agreement to operate the Chabahar port, a strategic milestone for regional connectivity. Modi underscored the importance of this agreement in promoting trade and commerce in the region, reinforcing the collaborative efforts between India and Iran.

In Iran, a five-day mourning period has commenced. Ceremonies are being held at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, marking the abrupt end of Raisi’s career, known for his hardline conservatism and his potential as a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The funeral process began Tuesday with prayers and a procession in Tabriz, the city where the helicopter crash occurred. Mohsen Mansouri, Iran’s vice president of executive affairs and head of the funeral planning committee, detailed the process, noting the transfer of the victims’ bodies to the holy city of Qom and then to Tehran.

On Wednesday, large ceremonies are planned at Tehran’s Grand Mosallah Mosque, with the day declared a public holiday to allow nationwide participation. Raisi’s body will then be moved to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, where Ayatollah Khamenei will lead prayers.

Further detailed ceremonies include funeral prayers at the University of Tehran, followed by a procession to Azadi Square on Wednesday morning. A ceremony honouring the martyrs with high-ranking foreign dignitaries is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The residents of South Khorasan province will bid farewell to the late president on Thursday morning in Birjand. Finally, Raisi will be buried on Thursday noon in Mashhad. Several country heads and people who matter will attend the funeral ceremony.

Iranian authorities have appointed a commission, including military and technical experts, to investigate the crash’s cause. A high-ranking delegation will visit the crash site in Eastern Azerbaijan, as reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.