NEW DELHI: Prime Minster Narendra
Modi
on Monday expressed shock and offered condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim
Raisi
’s death, after it was confirmed that the president and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were killed in the
helicopter
crash in the mountainous region of East Azerbaijan province.
In a sign of solidarity, the Prime Minister said that ‘India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow’.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Deeply saddened and
shocked
by the tragic demise of Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
The Prime Minister also said that Raisi’s contributions to developing the bi-lateral relation between India and Iran will be remembered.
“His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” PM Modi added.
Raisi was in a chopper
crash
with his foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollhian and other senior officials while travelling back from their visit to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan. After several hours of massive rescue operations, which involved drones sent by Iran’s neighbour Turkey, and amid harsh weather conditions, the wreckage of the helicopter was located.
However, the chopper was completely burnt, with Iranian state media reporting there were “no survivors” at the crash site and “no sign of life”.
( with input from agencies)