Funeral Ceremonies Begin for Late Iranian President Raïssi

The funeral ceremonies for Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi began on Tuesday in Tabriz, the capital of the province of Eastern Azerbaijan, where he died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. After Tabriz, Raïssi’s body will be transferred to the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, before being taken to the capital. Ayatollah Khamenei is set to lead prayers at a farewell ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday evening, followed by large processions in the capital starting Wednesday morning. Raïssi’s remains will then be taken to the provinces of South Khorasan and Mashhad for burial.

President Raïssi was returning to Tabriz from a dam inauguration ceremony with his Azeri counterpart when his helicopter crash-landed. He, along with eight others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, perished in the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of mourning and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president.

Raïssi, a conservative leader, had been in power since 2021 and was a strong contender to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Many countries, including allies like Hezbollah and Hamas, have expressed condolences over his passing. Raïssi’s death has sparked mourning and tributes across Iran, with rallies being held in various cities. The conservative leader was known for his support of the Palestinians, a stance that was reaffirmed in his final speech before the accident. The nation is now preparing for presidential elections scheduled for June 28.