Iran is mourning the loss of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash near the border with Azerbaijan. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers at Tehran University for the deceased. Iranian flags draped the caskets as mourners gathered to pay their respects. The funeral procession faced warnings against demonstrations and insults online, with strict security measures in place.
During the funeral service, Ayatollah Khamenei offered prayers for the dead in Arabic. Acting President Mohammad Mokhber openly wept as people carried the coffins out on their shoulders. Chants of “Death to America” were heard outside as the procession made its way through downtown Tehran to Azadi Square. Top leaders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas were among those present to express their condolences.
Haniyeh spoke about meeting President Raisi in Tehran during Ramadan and his commitment to the Palestinian cause. He praised Raisi for calling the recent Hamas attack in Israel an “earthquake in the heart of the Zionist entity”. Leaders from Pakistan and the Taliban of Afghanistan also attended the funeral services in Tehran. Iran declared five days of mourning, urging people to participate in public mourning sessions to honor the deceased.
Mass rallies have been a traditional way for Iran’s Shiite religious leaders to demonstrate their legitimacy. In past events, millions of people have gathered in the streets to pay tribute to key figures, such as Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and General Qasem Soleimani. Banners across Tehran hailed Raisi as “the martyr of service” and remembered him as a servant of the disadvantaged. Residents received messages encouraging them to attend the ceremonies in memory of Raisi.
Funeral rites for Raisi began in Tabriz and Qom, with thousands of mourners in attendance. After the procession in Tehran, Raisi’s remains will be taken to South Khorasan province and then to his hometown of Mashhad for burial at the Imam Reza shrine. Raisi, known for his conservative outlook, was considered a possible successor to Ayatollah Khamenei. The funeral ceremonies and public mourning sessions aimed to honor and remember the lives and legacies of the deceased individuals.
