Millions of people have gathered in Tehran to participate in the funeral procession for President Ebrahim Raeisi and his companions, who were martyred in a tragic helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.
The coffins of the eight victims of the deadly crash will be received by the public at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will lead the prayers for the deceased.
On Tuesday night, Iranians attended a ceremony at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran as part of the mourning events to pay homage to President Raeisi and his associates. Earlier in the day, millions had gathered in the northwestern city of Tabriz and the holy city of Qom to pay their respects.
Speaking at the ceremony in Tabriz, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahdidi expressed the nation's grief over the loss of a beloved, popular, and humble president. Vahdidi also mourned the loss of the foreign minister, praising his legacy of active diplomacy during critical moments of resistance. He further commended the efforts of the late governor of East Azarbaijan province and the province's Friday prayers leader.
“We had a bad landing in this matter, but we will have a brilliant rise,” Vahidi emphasized.
The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and his entourage crashed on Sunday while en route from Tabriz to Tehran. Among the victims were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, two senior provincial officials, crew members, and a bodyguard.
