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World leaders have expressed their condolences on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

Rescue teams began searching for Raisi on Sunday afternoon after his aircraft, which also carried nine other officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, went missing in Iran’s mountainous northwestern region near the Azerbaijan border.

 

On Monday morning, relief workers located the missing helicopter. State TV reported that the president’s body and those of the others on board had been identified.

 

Here are some reactions to the president’s death from across the world:

China
President Xi Jinping called the “tragic death” of Raisi “a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

European Union
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed the bloc’s “sincere condolences” for the death of Raisi, Amirabdollahian, and the other Iranian officials who died in the crash.

 

Josep Borrell, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, also offered his condolences.

 

“The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,” he said in a statement.

 

India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Raisi’s death. Iran President

 

“His contribution to strengthening the 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,” Modi wrote on Twitter.

 

Iraq
“We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the officials of the Islamic Republic during this painful tragedy,” Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani said in a statement.

 

Hamas
The Palestinian group conveyed its “deepest condolences and solidarity to Khamenei, the government, and the Iranian people for this immense loss.”

 

It praised Raisi and Amirabdollahian for supporting Palestine against Israel and expressed confidence that Iran’s “deep-rooted institutions” will overcome “the repercussions of this great loss.”  Iran President

 

Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was “deeply saddened” by the news, noting that he had the “honor” of meeting Raisi last November.

 

“His dedication to justice, peace, and the upliftment of the ummah [the Islamic community] was truly inspiring. We committed ourselves to bolstering Malaysia-Iran relations, working together for the betterment of our peoples and the Muslim world. Our pledge will be fulfilled,” Ibrahim said.  Iran President

 

Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning in Pakistan.

 

“May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.

 

Qatar
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed his condolences to the people of Iran.

 

“Asking God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness for [those killed] and for their families, and praying for their patience and solace. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,” he wrote on X.

 

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended condolences over the demise of two esteemed officials whom he referred to as “reliable friends” of Russia.  Iran President

 

“Their role in strengthening mutually beneficial Russian-Iranian cooperation and fostering a relationship built on trust is invaluable,” Lavrov said.

 

“We sincerely extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as to the entire friendly people of Iran. Our thoughts and hearts are with you during this sad hour.”

 

President Vladimir Putin echoed Lavrov’s sentiments by extending condolences to Tehran.

 

“Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was dedicated to serving his homeland,” Putin said in a letter to Khamenei, published on the Kremlin’s website.  Iran President

 

“As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighbourly relations between our countries, and exerted great efforts to elevate them to the level of a strategic partnership,” he added.

 

Yemen’s Houthis, represented by Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi’s Supreme Revolutionary Committee, conveyed their “heartfelt condolences” to the Iranian people and the families of the officials who perished in the crash.

 

Al-Houthi expressed confidence that Iran would persist in “standing by the loyal leaders of their people, with the help of God.”  Iran President