In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
With great pain and immeasurable sadness, I received the tragic news of the martyrdom of the esteemed scholar, the president who was tirelessly devoted to the people, the servant of Imam Reza, peace be upon him, His Excellency – Hujjat al-Islam and the Muslims, Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi, and his respected associates. May Allah be pleased with them.
This unfortunate event occured while performing his duties. All the duties performed by this noble and self-sacrificing man, both during the short mandate of the president of the state and before that, were a sign of continuous efforts in serving the people, the country and Islam.
Honorable President Raisi knew no fatigue. In this tragic accident, the Iranian people lost a loyal, sincere and invaluable servant of the people. For President Raisi, the well-being and satisfaction of the people, which leads to the satisfaction of God, was more valuable than anything else. That is why the harassment of the ungrateful and the sneers of the malicious did not prevent him from persistently and tirelessly making efforts for progress and well-being in everything.
In this tragic disaster, the lives of these prominent figures were also lost: Hujjat al-Islam Ali Hashem, the beloved and respected imam of Tabriz; Dr. Amir Abdollahian, the unwavering and steadfast Minister of Foreign Affairs; Malek Rahmati, the revolutionary and humble governor of East Azerbaijan province; the helicopter crew, as well as the accompanying staff. All of them have found their place under the shelter of God’s mercy.
I declare five days of mourning and express my condolences to the dear Iranian people.
According to Article 131 of the Constitution, Mr. Mokhbar will lead the executive branch and is required to, within a maximum of 50 days, consult with the leaders of the legislative and judicial branches to agree on the election of a new president.
Finally, I express my sincere and deep condolences to the dear mother of President Raisi, his honorable and respected wife, as well as to the other members of his family; and to the respected families of the president’s companions, especially the esteemed father of Hujjat al-Islam Ali Hashem. I pray for their patience and for mercy upon the deceased.
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
May 20, 2024.
