Iran’s powerful allies mourned the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, who perished in a helicopter crash, while regional militants hailed him as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

World react to Iran President Raisi’s death

Both Russia and China referred to the ultraconservative leader as a “friend,” whereas Iran’s adversaries, the United States and Israel, have not yet made public statements.

Here is a roundup of key reactions:

China

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed that “his tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” stated foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin during a regular press conference.

European Union

The European Union offered its “sincere condolences,” with EU Council President Charles Michel adding, “Our thoughts go to the families,” in an official statement.

France

France conveyed its condolences “to the Islamic Republic of Iran… and to the families of the victims of this accident,” as noted in a statement from the foreign ministry.

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared that he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of Raisi, and emphasized that “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”

Iranian Opposition

The exiled Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), declared that Raisi’s death “represents a monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime, notorious for its executions and massacres,” as stated by the group’s leader, Maryam Rajavi.

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin honored Raisi as an “outstanding politician,” describing his death as an “irreplaceable loss.” Putin noted, “As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighbourly relations between our countries, and made great efforts to elevate them to the level of a strategic partnership,” in a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Turkey

Turkey expressed its profound sorrow over Raisi’s death, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stating that Turkey “shares the pain of the friendly and brotherly Iranian people.” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent his “sincere condolences to the friendly and fraternal people and government,” in a message on X, formerly Twitter.

Hamas

Hamas mourned Raisi as an “honourable supporter” of the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group, whose October 7 attack on Israel led to the bloodiest-ever war in the coastal territory. Hamas acknowledged Raisi’s “support for the Palestinian resistance and tireless efforts in solidarity” with Palestinians since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Hezbollah

Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group praised Raisi as “a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our causes… and a protector of the resistance movements.” Lebanon declared three official days of mourning in his honor.

Huthis

Yemen’s Tehran-backed Huthi rebels expressed that Raisi’s death “is a loss not only for Iran but also for the entire Islamic world and Palestine and Gaza,” according to Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam on X. He added that Palestinians were “in dire need of the presence of such a president who continued to defend” their right to freedom.

Gulf States

Iran’s Gulf neighbors, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, extended their condolences. The oil-rich UAE announced that it “stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time,” conveyed Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, described the news as “painful.”

Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed solidarity with Tehran, acknowledging the strategic alliance between Syria and Iran. “We worked with the late President to ensure that strategic relations between Syria and Iran flourish always,” the Syrian presidency stated.

These reactions underscore the significant impact of President Raisi’s leadership and the widespread sense of loss felt by Iran’s allies and regional supporters.

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