07:43Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated at a briefing following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Astana on Tuesday that SCO members had expressed their condolences over the crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter, adding that they were confident in the 'continuity of Iran's foreign policy'.
"All of us, <...> expressed our sincere condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people and our confidence that the continuity of Iran's foreign policy will be maintained. <...> Deputy Minister Mahdi Safari, who is attending the SCO meeting here, has confirmed a clear interest in the implementation of a whole series of practical projects in the fields of transport and energy, which have been agreed by the presidents and which are very much in demand in the interests of the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran itself and of the North-South corridor," said Lavrov.
The Minister also noted that the participants of the meeting agreed that the SCO remains one of the pillars of the multipolar world order.
"It [SCO] is well positioned to become a driving force in transforming Eurasia into a single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust and development," he added.
The helicopter crash, which occurred during an official mission, claimed the lives of several high-ranking Iranian officials, leading to nationwide mourning and calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
The 63-year-old leader, along with his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was pronounced dead after the US-made Bell 212 helicopter allegedly made a difficult emergency landing in the mountains of Iran's northern East Azerbaijan province during heavy fog, however no official cause has been reported at time of publication.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will take over as acting president for an interim period, with elections scheduled on June 28. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani becomes acting foreign minister.
Condolences came from leaders of UAE, Pakistan, Russia, India, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. Raisi, a conservative cleric seen as close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected in 2021.
On 20-21 May, Lavrov took part in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states meeting in Astana, chaired by Kazakhstan.
All of us in SCO expressed condolences, are confident in 'continuity of Iran's foreign policy' - Lavrov following death of Raisi
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated at a briefing following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Astana on Tuesday that SCO members had expressed their condolences over the crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter, adding that they were confident in the 'continuity of Iran's foreign policy'.
"All of us, <...> expressed our sincere condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people and our confidence that the continuity of Iran's foreign policy will be maintained. <...> Deputy Minister Mahdi Safari, who is attending the SCO meeting here, has confirmed a clear interest in the implementation of a whole series of practical projects in the fields of transport and energy, which have been agreed by the presidents and which are very much in demand in the interests of the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran itself and of the North-South corridor," said Lavrov.
The Minister also noted that the participants of the meeting agreed that the SCO remains one of the pillars of the multipolar world order.
"It [SCO] is well positioned to become a driving force in transforming Eurasia into a single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust and development," he added.
The helicopter crash, which occurred during an official mission, claimed the lives of several high-ranking Iranian officials, leading to nationwide mourning and calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
The 63-year-old leader, along with his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was pronounced dead after the US-made Bell 212 helicopter allegedly made a difficult emergency landing in the mountains of Iran's northern East Azerbaijan province during heavy fog, however no official cause has been reported at time of publication.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will take over as acting president for an interim period, with elections scheduled on June 28. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani becomes acting foreign minister.
Condolences came from leaders of UAE, Pakistan, Russia, India, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. Raisi, a conservative cleric seen as close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected in 2021.
On 20-21 May, Lavrov took part in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states meeting in Astana, chaired by Kazakhstan.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated at a briefing following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Astana on Tuesday that SCO members had expressed their condolences over the crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter, adding that they were confident in the 'continuity of Iran's foreign policy'.
"All of us, <...> expressed our sincere condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people and our confidence that the continuity of Iran's foreign policy will be maintained. <...> Deputy Minister Mahdi Safari, who is attending the SCO meeting here, has confirmed a clear interest in the implementation of a whole series of practical projects in the fields of transport and energy, which have been agreed by the presidents and which are very much in demand in the interests of the development of the Islamic Republic of Iran itself and of the North-South corridor," said Lavrov.
The Minister also noted that the participants of the meeting agreed that the SCO remains one of the pillars of the multipolar world order.
"It [SCO] is well positioned to become a driving force in transforming Eurasia into a single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust and development," he added.
The helicopter crash, which occurred during an official mission, claimed the lives of several high-ranking Iranian officials, leading to nationwide mourning and calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
The 63-year-old leader, along with his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was pronounced dead after the US-made Bell 212 helicopter allegedly made a difficult emergency landing in the mountains of Iran's northern East Azerbaijan province during heavy fog, however no official cause has been reported at time of publication.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will take over as acting president for an interim period, with elections scheduled on June 28. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani becomes acting foreign minister.
Condolences came from leaders of UAE, Pakistan, Russia, India, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. Raisi, a conservative cleric seen as close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected in 2021.
On 20-21 May, Lavrov took part in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states meeting in Astana, chaired by Kazakhstan.