The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has shocked leaders around the world. Pakistan and other countries of the world have termed the death a great loss for the country.

‘Loss of a great friend’

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “profound shock and sorrow” over the tragic death of Raisi. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Iranian president, the foreign minister, and others who lost their lives in the accident.

The president paid tribute to President Raisi’s dedicated services to the Muslim Ummah, highlighting his steadfast advocacy for the unity of the Muslim Ummah.

He emphasized that the Islamic World has lost a “remarkable leader” who always supported the Muslim cause and deeply felt the sufferings of the Muslims globally, particularly the Palestinian and Kashmiri people.

“Today, Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend. Just last month, we had the honor of hosting him in Pakistan. During our discussions, I found him very keen on strengthening our bilateral relations,” Zardari said.

Day of mourning

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan would observe a day of mourning and the flag would fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Iran.

He recalled the Iranian president’s visit to Pakistan last month.

“Had been anxiously following developments regarding the reported crash landing of President Raisi’s helicopter. Was hoping for good news. Alas, this was not to be,” he said and described it as a “terrible loss” for the Iranian nation.

China says ‘lost a good friend’

China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday paid tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, describing his “tragic death” in a helicopter crash as “a great loss to the Iranian people”.

Xi sent “sincere condolences” to the Iran’s first vice president, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing.

“(Raisi’s) tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” Wang quoted Xi as saying.

China is a close partner of Iran, its largest trade partner, and a top buyer of its sanctioned oil.

According to Wang, Xi said that “President Raisi has made important contributions to maintaining Iran’s security and stability, promoting national development and prosperity, and also made active efforts to consolidate and develop the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership”.

China would offer “all necessary support and assistance” and “continue to support the Iranian government and people in safeguarding their independence, stability and development”, he said.

Putin says Iran’s Raisi was an ‘outstanding’ leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as an “outstanding politician” and said his death in a helicopter crash was an “irreplaceable loss.”

Iran has become one of Russia’s key political allies since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022, with Tehran supplying crucial drone technology.

“Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was dedicated to serving his homeland,” Putin said in a letter to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, published on the Kremlin’s website.

“As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighbourly relations between our countries, and made great efforts to take them to the level of a strategic partnership,” he added.

Modi ‘deeply saddened and shocked’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of the Iranian president in a helicopter crash.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran,” Modi posted on social media platform X. “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”

India and Iran have had historically close relations, with the Islamic Republic for many years a key oil supplier to the South Asian giant, which is now the world’s fifth-biggest economy, until US sanctions curtailed the trade.

Saudi Arabia extends condolences

Saudi Arabia also extended its condolences on Monday to Iran over the death.

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, “offer their condolences to his excellency, the acting head of the executive authority, Mohammad Mokhber, on the death of his excellency Ebrahim Raisi, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and his companions,” said a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

UAE stands in solidarity with Iran

The oil-rich UAE, which has mended ties with Tehran after years of rift, “stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time”, said Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident,” Sheikh Mohammed posted on social media platform X.

‘Painful news’ for Qatar

In another statement on X, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, called the news “painful”, expressing his “sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Bahrain expresses condolences

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa “expressed his sincere condolences and deep sympathy to Iran’s supreme leader and the brotherly people of the Iranian Republic over this painful incident”, according to a statement carried by the official Bahrain News Agency.

GCC reaffirms solidarity with Iran

Jassem al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), extended his condolences following the “tragic accident”.

In a statement released by the Gulf body, Budaiwi reaffirmed “the solidarity of the GCC with the government and people of Iran in these difficult circumstances”.

Syria’s Assad recalls working with Raisi

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed solidarity with close ally Tehran, which has backed him during more than a decade of civil war.

Assad “affirmed Syria’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and with the families of the late deceased and his comrades,” the Syrian presidency said in a statement.

“We worked with the late President to ensure that strategic relations between Syria and Iran flourish always,” the statement added.

Egypt’s Sisi expresses ‘great sadness and grief’

Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday extended his condolences for the deaths of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash.

“Egypt mourns, with great sadness and grief” the Iranian president and Tehran’s top diplomat, “who passed away on Sunday following a painful accident,” the presidency said in a statement.

Sisi, who has drawn closer to normalising relations with regional powerhouse Iran in recent years, extended “his sincere condolences and sympathy” to the Iranian people.