'Deeply Saddened': PM Modi Expresses Condolence On Iran President Raisi's Death In Chopper Crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa in 2023. ( Image Source :Getty )

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolence on the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who was killed in a helicopter crash on Monday. Taking to his X handle, Modi said India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow. Raisi's helicopter, which was part of an envoy, crashed in the north of the country after getting into difficulty in dense fog. 

Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran.…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2024

"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said the Prime Minister on X.  "His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered," he added. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also condoled the death of Iranian President and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was also present with Raisi in the helicopter.  

"Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash," Jaishankar said in a post on X. 

Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash.

Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024.

Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of…

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) May 20, 2024

"Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at time of this tragedy," he said. 

Jaishankar also recalled his "many meetings" with Raisi including the recent one in January 2024 during the former's Iran visit. 

During the meeting, Jaishankar had raised the issue of “threats of maritime shipping” amid attacks by Houthis on merchant vessels in the Red Sea.