Funeral procession for president of Iran commences following helicopter crash

Iran is mourning the loss of late president Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically died in a helicopter crash over the weekend. The three-day funeral procession began in the city of Tabriz, drawing large crowds as the country’s leaders aim to project stability in the wake of the disaster.

Among the eight victims of the crash was also the country’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. Raisi’s body will be transported to Qom and then to Tehran, where a public holiday has been declared for the ceremony. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated, “Iran will create another historic epic in the funeral,” emphasizing that the country’s affairs will continue despite the loss of the revered president.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will lead the religious ceremony in Tehran before Raisi’s burial in Mashhad, a significant pilgrimage destination in Iran. In the interim, first vice-president Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed as the head of the executive branch until elections are held on June 28.

The death of Raisi, a strong candidate to potentially become the next supreme leader, comes at a challenging time for Iran. The country is grappling with economic struggles due to US sanctions and heightened tensions in the Middle East. The funeral procession and ceremonies serve as a somber reminder of the loss felt by the nation as they bid farewell to a respected leader.