Iran acting FM holds talks with foreign officials

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with the new caretaker of Iran’s foreign ministry, offering condolences over the martyrdom of Iranian President Ebrahim Raiesi and the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Describing the role of Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian in expanding the relations between the two countries as significant, Al Thani expressed hope that with mutual efforts, this path will continue and the cooperation between the two countries will be developed in all fields.

Bagheri Kani, for his part, thanked the Qatari officials for expressing sympathy with Iran over the tragic helicopter incident that led to the martyrdom of the Iranian president and foreign minister.

He also called for developing the bilateral relations between Tehran and Doha.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan also contacted Bagheri Kani on Monday night to express condolences to Iran on behalf of his country’s officials and nation.

Thanking Saudi officials, the acting Iranian foreign minister, for his part, expressed hope that the mutual cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh would contribute to the security and stability of the region

In a phone conversation with Bagheri Kani, Abdullah Al Yahya, the foreign minister of Kuwait, conveyed the condolences of the Kuwaiti government and nation to Iran over the bitter incident.

We are standing by the government and people of Iran in this tragedy, he said.

For his part, Bagheri Kani thanked the Kuwaiti government and nation.

Referring to the efforts of President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian to expand and deepen relations with neighboring countries, he emphasized the need for continuing this path.

Baghei Kani also held a phone conversation with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Ma Zhaoxu on Monday night.

During the phone call, Zhaoxu hailed the role of Raeisi and Amir-Abdollahian in expanding the bilateral relations between Tehran and China.

He added that the tragic helicopter incident deeply saddened the Chinese president.

Bagheri Kani, for his part, thanked Chinese officials for Sympathizing with Iran, calling for the promotion of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and the close coordination of their foreign ministries in bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Ali Bagheri Kani, who was serving as the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister before the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was martyred, was appointed as caretaker of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following the martyrdom of Iran’s Foreign Minister on Sunday, the senior Iranian diplomat was appointed for this role, Spokesman of Iran’s Government Ali Bahadori Jahromi said on Monday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have martyred in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

It was transporting Raeisi, Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, and a member of the president’s bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot, and crew were also among others on board the chopper.

President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.