Iran’s ’Martyr’ Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian Laid to Rest

Amir-Abdollahian lost his life in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran on Sunday along with seven other passengers and crew including President Ebrahim Raeisi.

Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in the town of Shahr-Rey in Tehran province on Thursday for a funeral ceremony, which ended in his burial in the shrine of Shah Abdolazim.

Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who attended the ceremony, described Amir-Abdollahian as a martyr who had "guaranteed the revolutionary nature of the foreign ministry".

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani, who also attended the ceremony, assured that "there will be no disruption in Iran's rapid movement in the field of foreign policy and international relations".

"The loss of Amir-Abdollahian is certainly a loss for Iran's diplomatic system, but the Islamic Republic of Iran is a system based on institutions and basic approaches in the field of relations and foreign policy arising from the thoughts and ideals of the Imam [Khomeini], the principled approach of the Eminent Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei] and the basic principles in the Constitution."

Kan'ani stressed that Iran's political system is powerful and capable, citing the level of participation of different countries at the highest levels in the funeral for the late president and his companions.

The participation from various geographical regions and the multitude of messages of condolence and sympathy show Iran's prominent position in the world, he said.  

"Therefore, there will definitely not be any interruption in the forward movement of the Islamic Republic of Iran and constructive interactions and cooperation of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the countries and the international community."