Leader Honors Late President Raisi’s Humility, Services on 1st Anniv.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the statements Tuesday during a ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in Tehran, marking the first anniversary of Raisi’s martyrdom.
President Raisi and several senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, lost their lives in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, in East Azarbaijan Province. The Bell 212 helicopter vanished from radar during a flight from a dam inauguration amid heavy fog. Authorities later confirmed that the crash was not due to mechanical failure or sabotage.
Ayatollah Khamenei reflected on Raisi’s character and leadership style, stating, “Raisi did not consider himself to be superior to the people,” and emphasized that “he considered himself to be in the same rank as that of the people, and even in a lower position.”
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He praised Raisi’s “humble heart,” “sincere and straightforward discourse,” and “tireless and continuous action” as qualities that defined his time in office.
“Arrogance, belittling the people, and shifting the burden of leadership onto the people are characteristics of Pharaoh-like governance,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Raisi stood in stark opposition to such traits. He managed the country with a mindset that placed himself at the level of the people—or even lower.”
He described Raisi’s refusal to exploit his political position for personal gain and his commitment to serving others as a “great lesson.” “There are many individuals in the Islamic system who share these characteristics,” the Leader added. “But these values and lessons must become part of our national culture.”
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Ayatollah Khamenei also noted Raisi’s honesty and moral clarity, drawing a comparison with some Western leaders. “To understand the value of his honesty,” he said, “one must compare it with the deceitful rhetoric of officials in certain Western countries—those who loudly claim to defend peace and human rights, while closing their eyes to the killing of more than 20,000 innocent children in Gaza and aiding the perpetrators.”
The commemoration ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the heads of Iran’s executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, families of martyrs, and members of the public. Among the participants were the children of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the former Hezbollah leader assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut last year.
In the days leading up to the anniversary, domestic and international dignitaries paid tribute to Raisi’s legacy, recalling his dedication to social justice, religious values, and public service.
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