Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has praised the late President Ebrahim Raeisi’s dedication to serving the nation, saying that the martyr chief executive considered himself to be in the same rank as that of the people, and even in a lower position.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in the capital Tehran on Tuesday as Iran commemorated the first anniversary of former president’s martyrdom.
“Raeisi did not consider himself to be superior to the people,” the Leader noted, praising Raeisi’s approach to his official duties, and underscoring his belief in being equal to the people he served.
Raeisi lost his life during a tragic helicopter crash in the northwestern Iranian East Azerbaijan Province on May 19, 2024. The crash also claimed the lives of several other senior officials, including former foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The Bell 212 helicopter, en route from a dam inauguration event, lost contact about 30 minutes into the flight, with dense fog being later blamed for the aircraft’s collision with mountain.
The wreckage was found the following day, and no evidence of mechanical failure or foul play was discovered.
The incident was followed by an outpour of international sympathy.
According to Ayatollah Khamenei, Raeisi possessed “a humble heart,” as well as “a sincere and straightforward discourse, and tireless and continuous action."
The ceremony was also attended by senior government officials, including the heads of the country’s threesome executive, judicial, and legislative branches, families of martyrs, and other members of the public.
The attendants included children of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, former legendary secretary-general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, who was assassinated in Israeli strikes against Beirut last year.
The run-up to the anniversary featured various domestic and international officials paying affectionate tributes to Raeisi’s legacy.
Earlier, Esmaeil Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister reaffirmed that rekindling Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian’s memory would be realized through confrontation with the United States and the Israeli regime as well as continued support for resistance.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also honored the martyrs’ legacy, noting that the foreign policy principles established by Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian continued to shape Iran's diplomatic stance today.
In another tribute, President Masoud Pezeshkian went to the holy city of Mashhad, where he visited Raeisi’s mother.
The first anniversary of Raeisi’s martyrdom conjures up memories of the sacrifices that have been made towards preservation of Iran’s sovereignty, an imperative that was honored duly and dedicatedly under the former president.
The ceremony harks back to Raeisi’s commitment to the ideals of justice, resistance, and support for the oppressed, values that Raeisi championed throughout his life.
As the anniversary was approaching, Hezbollah’s current Secretary-General, Sheikh Naeim Qassem identified Raeisi as “a great personality whose significant stances were not swayed by power.”
“Palestine rested in the heart of Martyr Raeisi,” Qassem stated.
Press TV’s website
