Latin American leaders offer condolences over death of Iranian president in helicopter crash

BOGOTA, Colombia

Leaders across Latin America on Monday offered their condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, following a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were on board the aircraft that went down in northern Iran.

“With regret I learned of the confirmation of the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his chancellor, Hossein Amir Abdollahian and all the passengers and crew, after the crash of his helicopter. My condolences to the family members of all the victims, to the government and to the Iranian people,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva posted in an X message on Monday.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent his condolences on Monday for the death of his Iranian counterpart and other members of the nation’s government.

“We offer our condolences to the Iranian people for the death in an accident of the president of Iran and the chancellor of that nation. Our deepest condolences,” he said in his daily press briefing.

The government of Colombia said it “deeply regretted the death of the President of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hosein Amir Abdolahian, and the other people who lost their lives in the helicopter accident.”

“Colombia expresses its feelings of condolences for this tragic event and accompanies the families of the victims of this painful accident and the Iranian people in general,” a statement by the foreign ministry said.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said he was “shocked by the hard news about the sensitive physical loss” of Raisi.

“Cilia (Maduro’s wife), who is a friend of his wife, and I are deeply saddened by having to say goodbye to an exemplary person, an extraordinary leader of the world as our brother Ebrahim is and will always be, an excellent human being, defender of the sovereignty of his people and unconditional friend of our country,” Maduro said on his X account. He also extended heartfelt condolences to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Raisi’s family.

“A heartfelt hug from Venezuela. You, Iran, are an example of dignity, morality and resistance. Strength brothers and sisters!” Maduro added.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Bolivian leader Luis Arce also expressed sorrow and extended their condolences to the Iranian government.

Iranian vice President Mohammed Mokhber has been appointed president after the death until new elections are called in the country.

• Ebrahim Raisi
• Hossein Amir-Abdollahian