President Erdogan declares one-day mourning for Iran’s Raisi

President Erdogan announces a day of national mourning in Türkiye to honor the late Iranian President Raisi, expressing condolences and acknowledging Türkiye’s aid efforts in the helicopter crash aftermath

Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Türkiye would observe a day of national mourning in honor of the late leader.

Erdogan made this declaration following a Cabinet meeting at the presidential complex in Ankara on Monday, expressing condolences for Raisi’s passing and acknowledging Türkiye’s involvement in search and rescue efforts.

“We have decided to declare one day of national mourning over President Raisi’s passing,” Erdogan stated.

Türkiye’s Akinci UAV plays key role 

He highlighted the contribution of Türkiye’s domestically manufactured Bayraktar Akinci UAV, which conducted extensive search and scanning operations in the region for 7.5 hours, covering a distance of 2,100 kilometers (1,305 miles) despite challenging weather conditions.

In response to the crash, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry dispatched the Akinci UAV along with a Cougar-type helicopter equipped with night vision capabilities to assist in search efforts. The helicopter crash occurred as Raisi was returning from an inauguration ceremony for a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, as reported by Iranian state broadcasters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also conveyed his condolences to Iran’s interim President Mohammad Mokhber during a phone call on Monday, expressing sorrow over the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, along with members of their delegation.

Erdogan welcomes progress in Azerbaijan-Armenia peace talks

On the other hand, Erdogan touching on other issues after the Cabinet Meeting, addressed the process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

President Erdogan expressed contentment with the positive advancements in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, emphasizing that Ankara is closely monitoring the developments.

“Fair and lasting peace in the region will bring about a new climate for both Azerbaijan, Armenia and the countries in the region,” Erdogan added.