Nation Mourns as Iran Begins 3-Day Funeral for President Raisi, Officials
The procession took place in the city of Tabriz, located in Iran's northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.
The funeral ceremony commenced on Tuesday morning, drawing an extensive crowd of mourners who walked alongside the flag-draped coffins through the streets of Tabriz.
The attendees expressed their loyalty to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the Islamic Revolution, declaring their resolve against adversaries.
The tragic crash occurred on Sunday afternoon when the helicopter, carrying President Raisi and his delegation, crashed in a mountainous region while en route to Tabriz from a border area with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The president had been attending the inauguration of a significant dam project.
After an extensive search involving over 70 teams, the wreckage was located early Monday. Alongside President Raisi, the crash claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, two senior provincial officials, crew members, and bodyguards.
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The gathering of mourners in Tabriz was directed towards the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, a significant prayer ground in the city.
During the ceremony, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi addressed the crowd, articulating the nation's grief over the loss of a "beloved, popular, and humble president."
He also commemorated the late foreign minister, praising his contributions to diplomacy during pivotal moments of resistance.
Vahidi further acknowledged the late governor of East Azarbaijan province and the province's Friday prayers leader for their constructive efforts. "We had a bad landing in this matter, but we will have a brilliant rise," Vahidi emphasized.
Additional memorial services are scheduled, including a procession in Qom, home to the sacred shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (AS), set for Tuesday evening.
The remains will subsequently be transported to Tehran for another funeral on Wednesday.
Reports indicate that the burial of Tabriz's Friday prayers leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, will take place in Tabriz on Thursday.
The Governor of East Azarbaijan, Malek Rahmati, will be laid to rest in the city of Maragheh on the same day.
