"A true friend": Putin reacts to Iranian president's death in plane crash

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to Iran over the death of his "true friend," President Ebrahim Raisi. He sent a telegram to the country's supreme leader who supported him in the war.

The Iranian leader was killed along with his foreign minister and several other officials. They were all on board a helicopter that crashed in a mountainous area on the border with Azerbaijan on May 19.

In a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Russian president said that Raisi was "an outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving his homeland." Putin also noted that he "rightfully" enjoyed the allegedly high respect of his compatriots and considerable authority abroad.

"As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries, and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership," the Kremlin leader said.

He recalled how he had met Raisi on several occasions and would forever keep "the brightest memory of this wonderful person."

"Please convey my sincere condolences and support to the family and friends of the late president and all those who died in this terrible disaster. I wish them and the entire Iranian people mental fortitude in the face of such a heavy, irreparable loss," Putin said.

As a reminder, the presidential Bell 212 helicopter crashed into a mountain and completely burned down 30 km from the village of Tavil in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan. In addition to the leader, there were eight other people on board. On the morning of May 20, Iran reported the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, provincial governor Malek Rahmati, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem, and several other unnamed persons in the plane crash.

The plane crash with the Iranian leader stirred up the propagandists of Russia, which is friends with Iran. They traditionally "tied" Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States to this event. Raisi himself was known as an ally of dictator Putin and the Hamas terrorist organization. He declared his readiness to be a "mediator" between Russia and Ukraine and congratulated the militants on their "victory" over Israel.

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