Thousands Gather for Funeral Procession
In Iran’s Birjand, thousands of people converged to take part in the funeral procession of the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Mourners paid their final respects as they marched next to a vehicle carrying Raisi’s coffin through a wide road. Many were seen holding pictures and banners of Raisi, with some even throwing flowers.
Commemoration and Burial
The funeral procession in Birjand preceded the late president’s burial in his eastern home city of Mashhad. Prior to this, a funeral ceremony and prayers were held in Tehran, led by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ceremony was attended by 40 foreign dignitaries from various countries.
Helicopter Crash and Investigation
On May 19, Raisi, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash. The US-made Bell 212 helicopter crashed near the Azerbaijan border, with the cause of the crash still unknown. Iran has not provided official information on the incident, and the US has denied any involvement.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the United States had no role in the crash and refrained from speculating on the cause. He also mentioned that there were no immediate regional security concerns arising from the incident.
Transition of Leadership
With elections to choose a new president scheduled for June 28, Iran’s Supreme Leader has appointed Mohammad Mokhber as the interim president and Ali Bagheri as the acting foreign minister in the meantime.
