VP Dhankhar Pays Tribute To Late Iran President Raisi, Meets Acting President Mokhber

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, currently in Tehran, paid tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who perished in a helicopter crash along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others. Dhankhar also met with Iran’s acting President, Mohammad Mokhber.

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In a post on X, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, wrote, “VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPIndia met Acting President of Iran, Dr. Mohammad Mokhber in Tehran today. VP conveyed condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian.”

A memorial ceremony is being held in Tehran to honor Raisi, Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials who died in the helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on Sunday afternoon. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei has declared five days of national mourning.

According to Press TV, the ceremony is attended by at least 10 heads of state and 30 delegations led by ministers and speakers. Among the dignitaries paying respects to Raisi and the other officials were Azerbaijan Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Tunisian President Kais Saied, Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani.

VP Dhankhar arrived in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon to offer condolences and participate in the memorial ceremony for President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials. He left for Iran early on Wednesday (May 22).

Meanwhile, thousands in Iran took to the streets as Raisi’s funeral ceremony began on Friday in Tabriz, the northwestern city where the crash occurred on Sunday. President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their condolences to the Iranian government and people.

The Iranian government declared Wednesday a public holiday. Raisi’s body will be buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, on Thursday, as announced by Vice-President of the Republic, Mohsen Mansouri.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his condolences on Monday. In a post on social media platform X, he acknowledged Raisi’s role in strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship, saying, “Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”