DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Thousands of Iranians turned out in Tabriz on Tuesday to mourn President Ebrahim Raisi, who, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven others, died in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border over the weekend. The government has organized days of funerals and processions to honor the deceased leaders and project strength amidst regional and domestic tensions.
State TV broadcast images of mourners dressed in black, beating their chests and walking alongside a truck adorned with white flowers and the national flag, carrying the caskets. “Everyone has come to bid farewell to the martyred president and his companions regardless of their faction, ethnicity, or language,” said Tabriz lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian.
However, the public’s grief appeared subdued compared to the outpouring seen after the deaths of other senior figures, such as Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Analysts noted that the response lacked the emotional intensity of past events, raising questions about Raisi’s popularity and the public’s sentiment towards the current regime.
A Nation in Mourning
Raisi’s body was flown from Tabriz to Tehran airport before being taken to the holy city of Qom and then back to Tehran for a final procession. He will be buried in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday. The processions have been marked by a heavy security presence, reflecting government concerns over public reactions.
The death of Raisi, who was considered a possible successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, introduces significant uncertainty into Iran’s political landscape. “Raisi’s death comes at a moment when the Islamist regime is consolidated,” wrote Alex Vatanka, an Iran expert at the Middle East Institute. “Nonetheless, post-Khamenei Iran suddenly looks far less predictable than it did just a few days ago.”
Political and Economic Crisis
The tragedy comes amid deepening crises between Iran’s clerical leadership and its citizens, driven by tightening social controls, economic hardships, and political repression. Recent history includes a violent crackdown on protests following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian-Kurdish woman, in police custody. This incident, along with widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, has fueled public discontent.
In response to Raisi’s death, Iran declared five days of mourning, encouraging mass participation in public mourning sessions. Government employees, schoolchildren, and other citizens are attending these events, driven by a mix of patriotism, curiosity, and a desire to witness historic moments.
International Reactions and Future Uncertainty
Raisi’s international standing was complicated by U.S. sanctions over his role in mass executions in 1988 and his crackdown on dissent as judiciary chief. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and the UK’s Security Minister Tom Tugendhat expressed reluctance to send condolences, citing Iran’s contentious actions, including supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.
With the June 28 presidential election approaching, Iran’s rulers face the challenge of restoring public enthusiasm to ensure high voter turnout. However, widespread disillusionment with the ruling clerics’ ability to address economic woes and political grievances may dampen participation.
The Assembly of Experts, which includes Raisi, will now play a crucial role in selecting the next supreme leader. The panel’s first session since Raisi’s death featured his portrait among flowers, symbolizing the significant void his passing leaves in Iran’s political hierarchy.
As Iran mourns its president, the nation’s future remains fraught with uncertainty, navigating a complex landscape of internal discontent and geopolitical challenges.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
