Pretoria, 20 May 2024 – President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sorrow over the tragic helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other personnel on 19 May 2024. The incident occurred in East Azerbaijan as the leaders were returning to Iran.
On behalf of the South African government and its citizens, President Ramaphosa extended heartfelt condolences to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian people. His thoughts are with the families of the deceased, including the air crew who perished in the crash.
Reflecting on his previous working visit to Iran in November 2015, President Ramaphosa described the loss as an “extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy” that claimed a distinguished leader from a nation with strong bilateral ties to South Africa. He recalled welcoming President Raisi to the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023.
“Our hearts go out to the affected families and the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Ramaphosa stated. “We join Iran in this moment of mourning.”
