Thousands of mourners gathered in Tabriz, Iran, on Tuesday to bid farewell to President Ebrahim Raisi and seven other officials who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash on Sunday.
The procession marked the beginning of a national mourning period, declared by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to honor the late president and his entourage.
The funeral procession commenced at 9:30 a.m. local time in Tabriz, with mourners carrying Iranian flags and portraits of President Raisi.
The coffins of the late president and his aides were transported on a lorry, accompanied by heavily armed guards and Iranian officials.
A second procession took place in the religious city of Qom at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Meanwhile, an investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched, focusing on extreme weather conditions, challenging terrain, and potential technical issues.
The Supreme Leader declared five days of national mourning, and Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed as caretaker president until a presidential election can be held on June 28.
Additionally, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri, has been named acting foreign minister, succeeding Amir-Abdollahian, who also lost his life in the crash.
The sudden loss of President Raisi and other high-ranking officials has sent shockwaves throughout the region and beyond.
