President Ruto mourns Iran President Ebrahim Raisi

President William Ruto has eulogized Iran President Ebrahim Raisi as a firm leader after he died in a plane crash.

Raisi died following a helicopter crash on Sunday, alongside his Foreign Minister, Hossein Abdollahian and other senior officials.

“In light of the tragic news of the passing of H.E. Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Foreign Minister, H.E. Hossein Abdollahian and his entourage of senior officials through a helicopter crash, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Iran at this challenging time,” Ruto said.

He went on to describe the deceased Iranian President as a fearless leader.

Ruto said Raisi was a dedicated public servant, who has had a distinguished career in service to his people.

“He was a firm leader committed to the causes that he believed in and sought to elevate Iran’s standing on the global stage.

“As we condole with the people of Iran, we commend Allah’s mercy and comfort to the people of Iran,” Ruto said.

President Raisi made his first visit to the African continent in July 2023 and one of the countries he visited was Kenya.

He also visited Uganda and Zimbabwe.

News of his passing was confirmed on Monday morning, after hours of searching by rescue units.

The IRNA state news agency says that also on board were Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, the imam for Friday prayers in the city of Tabriz, and General Malek Rahmati, the governor of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan.

The commander of the president’s protection unit, Sardar Seyed Mehdi Mousavi, was also killed, as were several bodyguards and helicopter crew who have not yet been named.

The helicopter carrying President Raisi made a “hard landing” after it got into difficulties, state media reported.

The details of what happened remain unclear.

According to local media, Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north west of Iran, after returning from the border with Azerbaijan, where he opened the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams

The helicopter was one of three travelling in a convoy