World continues to mourn Raisi's death
TEHERAN — Condolences from leaders across the globe continue to pour in over the deaths of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and members of the accompanying team in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Members of the United Nations Security Council on Monday observed a minute's silence in Raisi's memory.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "saddened by the death" of Raisi and other Iranian officials, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
"The secretary-general expresses his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Countries in the region have also sent messages of sympathy.
Iran's Gulf neighbors, including Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, sent their condolences.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on X: "I offer my condolences to the Iranian people on the death of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials following the tragic plane accident."
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed his condolences, emphasizing the council's solidarity with the Iranian government and people in hard times, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud sent condolences to Iran's First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber on the deaths of Raisi and his accompanying delegation, a statement by Saudi Press Agency said.
President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country stands in solidarity with Iran at what he described as a "difficult time", and extended condolences to the Iranian government and the people of Iran.
Elsewhere, EU Council President Charles Michel said in a statement: "Our thoughts go to the families."
Also, a day of state mourning was observed on Tuesday in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, among other Asian countries, in honor of Raisi.
Xu Weiwei and Mike Gu in Hong Kong contributed to this story.
Agencies - Xinhua