Leader: Iran’s Cooperation with Iraq to Continue After Loss of President Raisi

Following the martyrdom-like demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani held a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran on Wednesday to offer his condolences on behalf of the Iraqi government and nation.

“In these upsetting circumstances, I have come to pay my respects to Your Excellency and convey the deep sorrow, grief, and condolences of the government and people of Iraq to the government and people of Iran. What we have seen from Mr. Raisi, the martyred President of Iran, was nothing but honesty, sincerity, purity, hard work, and service to the people,” the Iraqi prime minister told Ayatollah Khamenei.

Sudani also pointed to large turnout at the funeral ceremony of the martyred Iranian president, Khamenei.ir reported.

“The televised footage I witnessed today conveyed clear messages, the most important of which is the depth of the strong relationship between the people and the officials in the Islamic Republic, despite all the pressures, sanctions, and this tragic incident,” the Iraqi premier added.

“Another message conveyed by the presence of millions of people attending the funeral ceremony is that we must serve the people. This magnificent funeral procession is a testament to the impact of serving the people, and this lesson should serve as our guiding principle in Iraq as well,” Sudani stated.

During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his appreciation for the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Tehran in order to offer his condolences. “We’ve lost a great personage. He was a very good brother, and he was a skilled, competent, sincere, earnest official in the country,” the Leader stated.

“Mr. Mokhber has now taken on a heavy responsibility in accordance with the Constitution, and God willing, the same path of cooperation and agreements with the Iraqi government will continue,” the Leader added.

A helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage crashed in northwestern mountainous forests on Sunday.

The fatal accident happened as the president was returning from Khoda Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan after inaugurating a dam at the common border with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The crash killed President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Friday prayers leader of Tabriz Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati, the commander of the president’s security team, two pilots and a flight crew.

Ayatollah Khamenei has declared five days of public mourning, appointing the first vice president as the manager of the executive power.