Türkiye extends condolences to Tehran over death of Iranian president in helicopter crash

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye extended its condolences to Tehran on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials in a helicopter crash, its foreign minister said on Monday.

“Unfortunately, the news of the esteemed president and foreign minister’s passing away has saddened us deeply. We do share the deep pain of friendly and brotherly people of Iran,” Hakan Fidan said in a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad.

Soon after the crash in northwestern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on Sunday afternoon, Türkiye had mobilized all the possible equipment to assist in search and rescue operations, he added.

Fidan said Türkiye wishes “Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives," and extended condolences to the Iranian people.​​​​​​​

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and their companions were declared dead earlier in the day.

On the situation in the Gaza Strip, Fidan said Türkiye condemned those who constantly lecture others about human rights and democracy while being a part of crimes committed by Israel.

Israel has killed more than 35,400 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives. The military onslaught has reduced the Palestinian enclave to rubble, led to mass internal displacement, disease and shortage of basic necessities.

It also triggered a trial at the International Court of Justice, which in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and take measures to guarantee humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

For his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad and Ankara share a united stand against Islamophobia on international forums.

Dar said the two countries are cooperating with each other in different areas, including economy, trade and defense with a goal of taking the bilateral trade volume to $5 billion.

Türkiye and Pakistan are "two countries, but one nation," he added.