New Delhi, India – India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will travel to Iran on Wednesday (May 22) to participate in an official ceremony honoring Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who tragically died in a helicopter crash. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed this visit and announced that India has declared an official day of mourning on Tuesday to honor Raisi.
“Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will pay a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on May 22 to attend the official ceremony to pay condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials in an unfortunate helicopter crash on May 19,” the MEA stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu have both expressed their condolences following the tragic news. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited the Iranian embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday to extend India’s sympathies.
“Visited the Embassy of Iran in Delhi today to convey our deepest condolences on the tragic passing away of President Ebrahim Raisi and my colleague, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. They will always be remembered as friends of India who contributed immensely to the growth of the India-Iran relationship. Government of India stands in solidarity with the people of Iran at this very difficult time,” Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The fatal helicopter crash occurred in a foggy, hilly area in Iran’s northwest on Sunday. According to state media reports, the bodies of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials were recovered on Monday. The officials were en route to Tabriz after visiting a village near the Azerbaijan-Iran border when the accident happened.
The loss of President Raisi, 63, and his key officials is a significant blow to Iran, and India’s high-level delegation led by Vice President Dhankhar underscores the deep bilateral ties and mutual respect between the two nations.
