UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM FINNISH, NORWEGIAN AND LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
By Ahmet Gencturk and Nur Asena Erturk
ATHENS/ ANKARA (AA) - European leaders and officials on Monday expressed condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
“The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families,” European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X.
Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s office also issued a statement that read: “The European Union offers its condolences for the death of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian and other Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday. The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with the Iranian government and people, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. Meloni added that she foresaw no “major changes” in Iran’s internal structure for now.
The French Foreign Ministry also extended its condolences on the deaths, sending "thoughts to the victims’ families.”
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X: “We express our condolences to the people of #Iran and the families of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian, and all those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash yesterday.”
Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also wrote on X to express his condolences.
“In light of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi, my counterpart FM @Amirabdolahian, and their accompanying delegations, I extend my condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,” he wrote.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also wrote on X, and expressed his “deepest condolences to the Iranian people upon the tragic accident that took the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Iran,” Orban said.
Polish President Andrzej Duda recalled the plane crash in 2010 in the Russian city of Smolensk where one of his predecessors Lech Kaczynski died, and said: “It is with special understanding that we join with the relatives of the victims and the Iranian people in prayer and grief,” according to the state-run news agency PAP.
NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said on X: “Our condolences to the people of #Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash.”
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on X: "Shocked to hear of the passing of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian. Sending our condolences to the families of all the deceased in yesterday’s helicopter crash."
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said: "I express my condolences to the Foreign Ministry and leadership of Iran on these tragic news.”
- Lithuania hesitant
Meanwhile, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis remarked: " I don't feel comfortable sending condolences while Iran is sending drones that are used against civilians in Ukraine."
After a nightlong search operation hampered by bad weather, Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other top officials were declared dead on Monday morning.
Dozens of emergency rescue teams were dispatched to the mountainous area in northwestern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, where the accident occurred Sunday afternoon.
According to the Iranian Constitution, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume powers of the presidency, and elections be held within 50 days.