John F. Kirby, a national security spokesman for the U.S. White House, has berated Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash, as a murderer with a lot of blood on his hands.

Addressing journalists at the White House on Monday, Mr Kirby said he “was responsible for atrocious human rights in his own country” and had “a lot of blood on his hands.”

He added, “We certainly regret, in general, the loss of life and offered official condolences as appropriate.”

Mr Kirby assured Iran of the United States’ support as they fight for their civil rights while holding Iran accountable for their destabilising behaviour.

“We’re going to continue to stand with the Iranian people as they fight for their own civil rights and, as they should, and we’re going to continue to hold Iran accountable for all their destabilising behaviour in the region, which continues to this day,” Mr Kirby said.

Mr Riasi died on Sunday in a helicopter crash at Varzaqan, East Azerbaijan, Iran. His demise was announced on Monday morning.

Foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Mr Raisi’s guard team, also died in the crashed aircraft.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, declared a five-day mourning period for Mr Raisi. Iran’s Guardian Council has appointed Mohammad Mokhber as acting president, and Ali Bagheri Kani will serve as acting minister of foreign affairs.