KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today expressed condolences to Iran over the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and several government officials in northwest Iran yesterday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and several other officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
“Our prayers and solidarity go out to the people of Iran during this profoundly difficult time. May Allah bless their souls and place them among the righteous,” the Prime Minister posted on Facebook.
Anwar shared a picture of him and Raisi, taken during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in November.
“Raisi exemplified a deep commitment to the welfare of his people and the dignity of his nation, which represents a proud and rich civilisation rooted in the principles of Islam.
“His dedication to justice, peace, and the upliftment of the ummah was truly inspiring. We committed ourselves to bolstering Malaysia-Iran relations, working together for the betterment of our peoples and the Muslim world. Our pledge will be fulfilled,” he said.
Earlier, Iranian Red Crescent Society president Pir-Hossein Kolivand reportedly said no survivors were found at the chopper crash site.
Kolivand revealed the site was discovered after hours of searching in the mountainous East Azerbaijan province.
Raisi’s helicopter crashed yesterday afternoon in the Varzaqan region as he returned with Hossein and others from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border.
In a statement today, Wisma Putra said the helicopter made an emergency landing in the central Dizmar Forest, between the villages of Brazin and Ardeshiri in East Azerbaijan province.
It said the Malaysian government and its people extend their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the people of Iran, and all those affected by the tragic incident.
— Bernama
