Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have martyred in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

It was transporting Raeisi, Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, and a member of the president’s bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot, and crew were also among others on board the chopper.

President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Following the tragic martyrdom of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei declared a 5-day mourning in Iran.

The funeral ceremonies for helicopter crash martyrs are scheduled to be held in East Azarbaijan Province, Qom, and the Grand Mosalla mosque of Tehran on Tuesday. Another funeral ceremony will be held at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning. A commemoration ceremony is set to be held on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of high-ranking foreign deletions. The body of martyr Raeisi would be transferred to South Khorasan Province on Thursday for another funeral before final destination, the Holy city of Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan Province.

People gathering to bid farewell to the helicopter crash martyrs

Remarks of Interior Minister

Speaking at the ceremony, Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahdidi cited that today, Iran mourns for the death of a beloved, popular, and humble president.

The Iranian nation is saddened by the death of a foreign minister who left active diplomacy in the critical moments of the resistance as his legacy, Vahidi added.

He also praised the constructive efforts of the Governor of the East Azarbaijan province and the province’s Friday prayers leader in their roles.

“We had a bad landing in this matter, but we will have a brilliant rise,” Vahidi stressed.

Bodies transferred from martyrs cemetery to funeral ceremony

Minutes later, the body of the martyred president and his companions were transferred from the Tabriz Martyrs cemetery for the funeral ceremony.

People attending the ceremony

Hours before the ceremony, the crowds of people from across the East Azarbaijan province gathered at the site of the ceremony.

Provincial and national officials are also taking part in the funeral ceremony.