2:52 p.m. ET, May 19, 2024
Regional leaders express sympathy and offer support to Iran
From CNN’s Nechirvan Mando, Hande Atay Alam and Manveena Suri
Leaders across the Middle East and beyond are expressing their sympathies and concern about Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials, after their helicopter crashed into the mountainous East Azerbaijan Province on Sunday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed concern and said he is praying for Raisi in his first comments since the crash, according to state news agency IRNA:
“We hope that Almighty God will return the esteemed President and his companions to the nation. Let everyone pray for the health of this serving group. The Iranian people should not worry; no disruption will occur in the country’s affairs.”
Despite rising tensions between Pakistan and Iran following a series of strikes early this year, Pakistan’s top leaders both sent prayers and best wishes to the entire Iranian nation.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, wrote on X, “My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, wrote on X, “Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation.”
Here’s what other leaders are saying:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage.”A spokesperson for the Iraqi prime minister said the country’s interior ministry has directed resources from the Iraqi Red Crescent and other authorities to be available to help in the search.The Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries each offered to provide support to the rescue operations in posts on X.
