Leader praises late Pres. Raeisi’s dedication to serving people during martyrdom anniv.
Iran commemorates the first anniversary of former president Ebrahim Raeisi’s martyrdom with a ceremony attended by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
During the event, which went underway at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in the capital Tehran on Tuesday, the Leader praised the former chief executive’s humility and dedication to serving the people.
“Martyr Raeisi did not consider himself to be superior to the people,” Ayatollah Khemenei noted, praising Raeisi’s approach to his official duties, and underscoring his belief in being equal to the people he served.
“He considered himself to be in the same rank as that of the people, to be like the people, themselves, and even of a smaller stance,” the Leader stated.
Raeisi’s life was cut short during a tragic helicopter crash in the northwestern Iranian East Azerbaijan Province on May 19, 2024. The crash also claimed the lives of several other senior officials, including former foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The Bell 212 helicopter, en route from a dam inauguration event, lost contact about 30 minutes into the flight, with dense fog being later blamed for the aircraft’s collision with mountain.
The wreckage was found the following day, and no evidence of mechanical failure or foul play was discovered.
The incident was followed by an outpour of international sympathy.
According to Ayatollah Khamenei, Raeisi possessed “a humble heart,” as well as “a sincere and straightforward discourse, and tireless and continuous action.”
The ceremony was also attended by senior government officials, including the heads of the country’s threesome executive, judicial, and legislative branches, families of martyrs, and other members of the public.
The attendants included children of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the former legendary
secretary-general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, who was assassinated in Israeli strikes against Beirut last year.
(This item will be updated).
