Glamorous Funeral Procession Held for Late Iranian President and Delegation

Tehran, The Gulf Observer: A grand funeral procession for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation, martyred in a helicopter crash on Sunday, was held in the capital city. Iranians from across the nation traveled to Tehran to participate in the solemn farewell.

Supporters of the Islamic Revolution flooded the streets of Tehran to bid farewell to Martyr Raisi and the officials who perished in the May 19 crash in northwestern Iran. The massive crowd chanted “It is the day of mourning” as they expressed their condolences over the tragic loss of their president and his entourage.

The ceremonies began with Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei leading the prayers over the bodies at the University of Tehran on Wednesday morning, followed by the funeral procession through the city.

In the afternoon, over 40 high-ranking foreign delegations are expected to join a ceremony in Tehran to honor the martyrs. The international participants include approximately 10 heads of state, nearly 20 ministers, and other dignitaries such as parliament speakers and special envoys. A separate funeral was held in Qom on Tuesday afternoon, following an earlier ceremony in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

The bodies of President Raisi and his companions were transferred to Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday. The tragic helicopter crash occurred as President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, two bodyguards, two pilots, and a crew member were returning from a dam opening ceremony near Iran’s border with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The accident happened in the mountainous areas of the Varzaghan region.

The procession underscores the significant loss felt by the nation and highlights the profound respect and admiration for the late President Raisi and his companions.