I am deeply saddened to learn about the sudden demise of His Excellency Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and His Excellency Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and other victims on their entourage, in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday, 19 May 2024.

On behalf of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), and on my behalf, I would like to offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Government and the good people of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also commiserate with the families of all those who lost their lives in this sad incident.

I wish to recall that upon my assumption of duty as the Secretary General of the D-8 Organization in 2022 I visited Iran, where I had honour of meeting with His Excellency President Raisi, at the Presidential Palace in Tehran. I shall continue to cherish the fond memories of our meeting.

We at the D-8 Organization pray to Almighty Allah to grant the late President, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the best place beside Him in His Jannatul Firdaus and forgive them their shortcomings. May Almighty Allah also give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Finally, Iran, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Raisi, had been a staunch supporter of the D-8 Organization, and had actively participated in all our activities, for which we shall continue to remember his valuable contributions and wise counsels.