Global Reactions Continue to the News of Ebrahim Raisi's Death and His Companions

The news of the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, and his accompanying delegation in a helicopter accident has sparked widespread reactions from various countries, media, and experts on Iranian affairs. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, expressed his condolences in a statement, calling the death of Ebrahim Raisi and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the President and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, a 'tragic loss' for Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and the people of Iran. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also offered condolences on social media for the deaths of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and their delegation. Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, announced a day of national mourning and that the flag would be flown at half-mast in honor of Raisi and his companions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on social media, stating that Raisi's contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between India and Iran would always be remembered. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that President Xi Jinping referred to Raisi as a 'good friend' of Beijing and expressed condolences for the death of Amir-Abdollahian as well. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also expressed his condolences on social media. Iranian-affiliated militants, including Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen, expressed their sorrow over Raisi's death. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar issued separate statements of condolence for Raisi and his companions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred to Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian as 'true friends' of Russia. The European Union expressed its 'sincere condolences' for the deaths of Raisi and his companions. The news of Raisi's death also prompted reactions from media and analysts regarding Iranian affairs. The political-economic magazine 'Foreign Policy' stated that Raisi's death marks the end of a short but transformative era in the Islamic Republic's politics, placing Iran on a difficult path and pushing the Middle East to the brink of regional war. The publication noted that during his nearly three years in power, Raisi steered Iran's domestic and social policies in a more conservative direction and displayed a more hostile face towards the United States in foreign policy. The American online newspaper 'Politico' described Raisi, 63, as a conservative cleric and former head of the judiciary responsible for decades of brutal repression against his people's aspirations for personal freedoms and greater democracy, including the arrest, torture, and execution of tens of thousands of regime opponents. The New York Post reported that according to Iranian state media, Ebrahim Raisi, the hardline president of the Islamic Republic, was killed after the helicopter carrying him, known as the 'Butcher of Tehran,' crashed in a remote area of Iran. The non-profit analytical news website 'The Conversation' noted that the internal turmoil during Raisi's presidency coincided with changes in Iran's regional and international role. Khamenei, as the Supreme Leader, has the final say in foreign policy, but Raisi led a government that continued its confrontational path against its enemies, particularly the United States and Israel. Karim Sadjadpour, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment, wrote on social media that Raisi's death creates a succession crisis in Iran, as he and Mojtaba Khamenei are the only contenders to replace the 85-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei (Mojtaba's father). In Iran's conspiratorial political culture, few believe that Raisi's death was accidental. Arash Azizi, a senior lecturer at Clemson University and an expert at the Center for Middle East and Global Order, told Reuters that everyone expects a ruthless power struggle to begin after Khamenei's death, and this incident [Raisi's death] may have initiated that struggle. Iranian state media officially confirmed the news of the deaths of Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Friday Imam of Tabriz, and other passengers of the helicopter on Monday morning. Images from the crash site of the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi in East Azerbaijan were also shared. Special coverage of the incident involving the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi continued, including the transfer of the bodies of Raisi and other passengers of the crashed helicopter in East Azerbaijan. Analysis of the impact of Ebrahim Raisi's death on the Islamic Republic's macro policies, with Mehdi Aslani, and the potential intentionality of the helicopter accident for Ebrahim Raisi, from the perspective of Amin Sofiamahreshadi, was also discussed in the wake of the announcement of the helicopter incident. Ali Khamenei appointed 'Mokhber' as the interim head of government and declared five days of 'public mourning.' Global reactions to the helicopter accident involving Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation were also noted.