Iran’s Supreme leader, Ebrahim Raisi, was buried in his hometown of Mashad on May 22. Raisi was killed when his helicopter crashed in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border after visiting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, while flying in inclement weather on May 19.
Raisi, 63, was a conservative Iranian leader, accused of vicious crackdowns against political opponents and even executing tens of thousands of the Islamist regime’s opponents. Nicknamed “The Butcher,” Raisin even oversaw the repression of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022 after the death of 22-year-old Masha Amini.
According to Reuters, those who died in the crash included Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power regarding foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, has appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president.
“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,“ Khemenei said. “Oh Allah, we didn’t see anything but good from him,” he added.
As the coffins of the deceased were escorted through the streets of Tehran, onlookers chanted “Death to America,” and mourned the loss of their president.
In attendance at Raisi’s funeral were top Iranian leaders and. Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent figure of Hamas, and Naim Qassam, the second in command of Hezbollah, were also in attendance at the funeral.
According to NBC News, Haniyeh spoke before the funeral, while an emcee led a “Death to Israel,” chant.
“I come in the name of the Palestinian people, in the name of the resistance factions of Gaza… to express our condolences,“ Hanyieh expressed to those gathered.
However, not all Iranians showed sorrow for the death of Raisi.
“Who cares. One hardliner dies, another takes over and our misery continues,” said Reza, 47, a shopkeeper in the city of Yazd, who did not unveil his full name. “We’re too busy with economic and social issues to worry about such news.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he had no knowledge of the cause of the crash, and added that the United States had no part in the Iranian President’s death.
“As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said as the U.S. expressed its “official condolences.”
According to the Islamic Republic’s constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 50 days. In the meantime, the world awaits the official election of the next Iranian President.
