Iran began funeral processions Tuesday for President Ebrahim Raisi, as the country grapples with the fallout from his sudden death at a time of heightened regional tensions and domestic uncertainty.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of national mourning for Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others killed in the helicopter crash in a remote part of northwest Iran on Sunday. The shock incident wiped out two of the Islamic Republic’s key political figures, raising questions about its leadership beyond Khamenei, its ultimate authority.
Thousands of mourners gathered for the first funeral procession early Tuesday in Tabriz, the closest major city to the crash site. The bodies of those killed will then be taken to the holy city of Qom in the afternoon.
Wednesday will be a public holiday as a funeral for Raisi will be held in the capital, Tehran, and funerals will be held in two more cities on Thursday. Raisi is expected to be laid to rest in the holy city of Mashhad on Friday.
Raisi’s unexpected death led to scenes of mourning in Iran on Monday, as messages of condolences poured in. But some also expressed relief at the death of Raisi, 63, who was known by some for presiding over brutal crackdowns on political opponents and protesters.
In a short statement late Monday, the State Department said the United States expressed its “official condolences” for the deaths of Raisi and the seven others killed. “As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the statement added.
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Author: Faith N
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