Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, led prayers for the deceased President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday amidst large crowds gathering in Tehran for his funeral procession. Accompanied by senior officials, Khamenei offered prayers for the eight individuals who lost their lives in Sunday’s helicopter crash, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Mourners filled the grounds of Tehran University for the prayers before the procession proceeded to Enghelab and Azadi squares. State television reported that Raisi, once considered Khamenei’s potential successor, received an overwhelming farewell from the people of Tehran.
During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, Khamenei expressed condolences, describing Raisi as a prominent figure and highlighting his qualities. Notable figures such as Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas and Naim Qassem from Hezbollah participated in the procession, reaffirming support for Palestine amidst chants of “Death to Israel.”
In Tehran, large banners were displayed honoring Raisi as “the martyr of service,” while others bid farewell to “the servant of the disadvantaged.” Residents of Tehran received messages urging them to join the funeral procession. One mourner, Maryam, traveled from Varamin to pay her respects and comfort the supreme leader.
Raisi’s helicopter crashed in northwestern Iran amid foggy conditions as he returned from a ceremony on the border with Azerbaijan. A multinational search and rescue effort ensued, with assistance from the European Union, Russia, and Turkey. State television announced Raisi’s death on Monday.
Funeral ceremonies began with processions through Tabriz and Qom, drawing tens of thousands of mourners. The bodies will be transported to Mashhad, Raisi’s hometown, for burial after funeral rites at the Imam Reza shrine. Khamenei declared five days of national mourning and appointed Mohammad Mokhber as caretaker president until the upcoming election. Ali Bagheri has been named acting foreign minister, and an investigation into the helicopter crash has been initiated by Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s armed forces chief. Raisi assumed office in 2021, succeeding Hassan Rouhani amidst challenging economic conditions due to US sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program.
