World leaders, dictators and terror groups offer ‘sincere condolences’ to Iran

As Israel denied any involvement in the helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president and foreign minister on Sunday, world leaders, dictators and terror groups offered their “sincere condolences” to the Islamic Republic. 

Reuters quoted an Israeli official saying: “It wasn’t us.” No Israeli government official commented on the helicopter crash, but Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu, said: “There was no doubt that the president was a brutal man. We won’t shed a tear.”

European Union meanwhile issued a statement, offering “sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families.

Hamas released a statement saying the terror group shared its “feelings of grief and pain with the brotherly Iranian people”, calling them the “best Iranian leaders who had a long journey in Iran’s renaissance.”

Hezbollah called Raisi “a strong supporter and a staunch defender of our causes… and a protector of the resistance movements,” while tanking him and the foreign minister for their “intense political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people.”

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan called Raisi a “valuable colleague and brother. As a colleague who personally witnessed his efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in power, I remember Mr. Raisi with respect and gratitude.”

The Houthi rebels in Yemen sent its “deepest condolences to the Iranian people, the Iranian leadership, and the families of President Raisi and the accompanying delegation on their reported martyrdom.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Raisi a “true friend” to Russia: “Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the great tragedy that befell the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran…Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving the Motherland,” he said in a statement from the Kremlin.

United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed extended his “deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident.”

“We pray that God grants them eternal rest, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families. The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time,” he added.

Raisi was known as one of the most brutal men of the Islamic regime, overseeing thousands of executions of political dissidents in the late 1980’s.

During his term as president, the regime cracked down harshly on demonstrators, killing and imprisoning its critics while imposing strict Islamic law in the country.