Pretoria, 20 May 2024 – Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, has conveyed heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Iran following the tragic death of Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Dr. Amir-Abdollahian, alongside President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials, perished in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024.
Dr. Pandor expressed profound sympathy and offered solace to the family and colleagues of Dr. Amir-Abdollahian during this period of mourning. Reflecting on her professional relationship with the late minister, she highlighted their co-hosting of the 15th Session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation between South Africa and Iran in Pretoria on 10 August 2023. During this visit, Dr. Amir-Abdollahian also met with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The ministers had forged a strong working relationship, frequently meeting at various multilateral forums, including the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in 2023. Dr. Pandor praised Dr. Amir-Abdollahian as a brilliant and astute diplomat whose contributions to international relations will be deeply missed.
