The death of Iranian President Raisi has caused a stir. However, the extent of the diplomatic expressions of condolence has been met with incomprehension.
The reactions of the United Nations and the European Union to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have sparked outrage. In the eyes of some critics, the expressions of solidarity went too far.
Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the Security Council's minute of silence. He argued that the body had bowed its head before a mass murderer. "What's next? Will the Security Council hold a minute of silence in memory of Hitler?" Erdan asked, more or less rhetorically. "The Security Council has become a threat to peace and security worldwide."
The Security Council is chaired this month by Pedro Comissário Afonso, the representative from Mozambique. The southeastern African country has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel since 1993. On Sunday, the Council met to discuss, among other things, its regular report on the Middle East.
UN: Flags at half-mast
On Tuesday, the UN also lowered its flag to half-mast. The international organization wants this to be understood as a "sign of respect" for Raisi. It called on all factories and institutions to also lower their flags to half-mast.
The chairwoman of the Bundestag's defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), criticized the measure in harsh terms: "A moral collapse of this so important international institution." Referring to the UN Secretary-General, she added: "And António Guterres is clearly the pilot who crashed."
Criticism of expression of solidarity
A statement from the EU Commission also caused outrage. The Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, the Slovenian Janez Lenarčič (independent), announced on Sunday that the EU, at Iran's request, was supporting the search for Raisi with satellite imagery; search teams had been searching for the wreckage for a long time in the rugged terrain. He added the hashtag "#EUSolidarity" to the statement on the X platform.
Faced with critical reactions, Lenarčič attempted to explain his post: Providing the satellite data was not an act of political support. "It is simply an expression of the most basic humanity."
Curiously, Iran also asked the US for help in the search. The two regimes have no diplomatic relations and are considered arch-enemies. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed receipt of the request. The US was prepared to provide assistance, but ultimately declined, "primarily for logistical reasons.".
EU expresses condolences for Raisi
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell of Spain, expressed condolences for Raisi on behalf of the bloc. "The EU expresses its sympathy to the families of all victims and to the Iranian people." The President of the European Council, Charles Michel of Belgium, also offered his condolences and expressed his "sincere sympathy.".
Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, wrote: “We offer no condolences for Raisi. Our focus is on his political prisoners. The regime must not use this public distraction to intensify the wave of executions of recent weeks.”
Similar to the UN and the EU, the terrorist organization Hamas also expressed its condolences. It thanked Raisi and Amir Abdollahian for their support of the "Palestinian resistance." Russian leader Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as a politician who "was rightly highly respected by his countrymen and enjoyed great esteem abroad.".
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his "sincere condolences." Raisi's death was a "great loss for the Iranian people."
Lieberman: We will not shed a tear
The crash inevitably sparked speculation about who might be behind it. An unnamed Israeli government official told the Reuters news agency: "It wasn't us."
Member of Parliament and former Foreign and Defense Minister Avidgor Lieberman (Israel Beiteinu) said that Raisi's death makes no difference to Iranian policy, which is determined by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "However, there is no doubt that the president was a brutal man. We will not shed a tear."
Crash in the fog
Raisi died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on Sunday. He had been visiting Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam on the border river Aras with President Ilham Aliyev. The aircraft crashed in dense fog in the Dismar Forest between the towns of Varsakan and Jolfa. Authorities have not yet released an official cause for the crash.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also on board and is among the dead. All six other passengers also perished.
Ordered mourning
Following the news of his death, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared five days of national mourning. A first funeral ceremony was held Tuesday morning in Tabriz, with more to follow in other cities. A memorial service with state guests is planned for Wednesday. Khamenei is to be buried Thursday in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad.
Iran will hold presidential elections on June 28. Vice President Mohammed Mochber will temporarily assume the duties of President Raisi.
A president would also have a chance at the position of head of state. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the now 85-year-old Ali Khamenei, is considered a candidate. According to observers, however, the latter opposes his son's candidacy to counteract the impression of a hereditary succession.
Fireworks of joy
In some Iranian cities, Iranians set off fireworks to celebrate the dictator's death. The Iranian population is suffering under the regime's repressive measures as well as an economic crisis.
Raisi is also known as the "Butcher of Tehran": From July to September 1988, 5,000 political prisoners were executed – roughly 100 or more per day. Raisi served as a prosecutor on the four-member death tribunal. (Israelnetz)
