Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declares five-day mourning for President Raisi

Dear Raisi never felt fatigued. In this tragic incident, the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant.

• May 20, 2024
Ayatollah Khamenei
Ayatollah Khamenei

It was with great sadness and regret that I received the bitter news of the martyrdom of the great scholar, the hard work, and an efficient president, Hojjat-ul-Islam Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, and his dear companions.

This unfortunate incident happened during a mission to serve people; The entire tenure of this noble and selfless person, both during the short term of the presidency and before that, was completely spent in non-stop efforts to serve the people, the country, and Islam.

Dear Raisi never felt fatigued. In this tragic incident, the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant. For him, the goodness and satisfaction of the people, which indicates God’s satisfaction, was preferred over everything, so his annoyances from the ingratitude and taunts of some ill-wishers did not prevent him from working day and night to improve affairs.

In this incident, prominent personalities such as Hajjat ul-Islam Ale-Hashem, the popular and prestigious Friday Prayers Imam of Tabriz, Mr. Amir-Abdollahian, the active foreign minister, Mr. Malek Rahmati, the revolutionary and pious governor-general of East Azerbaijan, and the flight crew and other companions also were passed away.

I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran. According to Article 131 of the Constitution, Mr. Mokhbar is in the position of managing the executive branch, and he is obliged to make arrangements with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches for the election of a new president within a maximum of fifty days.

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