Iran’s powerful allies on Monday mourned the death of its President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, while regional militants hailed him as a supporter of the Palestinian cause.
The United States said the deceased ultraconservative leader “had blood on his hands”, Russia and China called him a “friend”, and Iran’s arch-foe Israel has yet to react publicly.
Here is a round-up of key reactions:
United Nations : Members of the UN Security Council observed a minute’s silence in Raisi’s memory at the request of the current council president, Mozambique Ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso.
NATO : NATO spokesperson Farah Daklallah on social media platform X sent the military alliance’s “condolences to the people of Iran”.
United States : State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States “expresses its official condolences” and reaffirmed “our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms”. Later, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Raisi was responsible for “atrocious” rights abuses and “had a lot of blood on his hands”.
China : China’s President Xi Jinping said “the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a press conference.
Russia : Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Raisi as an “outstanding politician” and “a true friend of Russia” in a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian opposition : Exiled opposition group the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said Raisi’s death was “a monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime, notorious for its executions and massacres”, in a statement from the group’s leader, Maryam Rajavi.
Turkey : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a national day of mourning. Earlier, he sent “sincere condolences to the friendly and fraternal people and government” of Iran in a message on X.
Taliban: Mohammad Hassan Akhund, leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban government, said in a statement: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and all Afghans are deeply saddened and affected by this tragic event.”
Hamas: Hamas mourned Raisi as an “honourable supporter” of the Palestinian militant group, currently at war with Israel in Gaza, and hailed his “support for the Palestinian resistance”.
Gazans : Several ordinary Gazans told AFP that Raisi had failed to ease their suffering. “He never supported us, never kept his promises, never called for a ceasefire, and never stood by us,” said one, Naji Khodeir, a resident of the war-torn city of Deir al-Balah.
Hezbollah : Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group, which has traded deadly cross-border fire with Israel during the war, praised Raisi as “a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our causes”.
Huthis : Yemen’s Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said Raisi’s death “is a loss not only for Iran but also for the entire Islamic world and Palestine and Gaza”, Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said on X.
Iraq : Iran’s neighbour Iraq announced a day of mourning, the prime minister’s office announced.
Syria : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a statement expressed solidarity with Tehran, which has backed him during more than a decade of civil war.
North Korea : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of condolence, saying the “demise of the president is a great loss to the fraternal Iranian people and the world people aspiring after independence and justice”, state media outlet KCNA reported.
