Biden’s State Dept Offers ‘Condolences’ On Iranian President’s Death
President Joe Biden’s State Department sent “official condolences” on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hours after it was confirmed that he died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
A memo sent out by State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller offered condolences on behalf of the United States, saying, “The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The condolence message was a bit strange to some Americans, given that Raisi, who is known as the Butcher of Tehran, was “overseeing the Ministry of Intelligence’s efforts to assassinate former U.S. diplomats, including Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken’s predecessor, Mike Pompeo” when he presided over political executions.
Former State Department advisor on Iran Gabriel Noronha pointed this out, tweeting, “The @statedept send its condolences on the death of Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi was overseeing the Ministry of Intelligence’s efforts to assassinate senior former U.S. diplomats, including Secretary Blinken’s predecessor, @mikepompeo, and my former boss Brian Hook.”
The @statedept send its condolences on the death of Ebrahim Raisi.
Raisi was overseeing the Ministry of Intelligence’s efforts to assassinate senior former U.S. diplomats, including Secretary Blinken’s predecessor, @mikepompeo, and my former boss Brian Hook. pic.twitter.com/O43cEOyVCs
— Gabriel Noronha (@GLNoronha) May 20, 2024
For many Americans, sending condolences to Iran on the death of Raisi is similar to sending condolences to Germany when Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler died in 1945.
“This is crazy. What is going on? Did we send condolences to Germany when Hitler died?” Bill Ackman tweeted.
This is crazy. What is going on?
Did we send condolences to Germany when Hitler died? https://t.co/POG9jG3NHV
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) May 20, 2024
“The @StateDept also would like to express condolences to the family of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Karl Marx,” Jim Miller wrote.
The @StateDept also would like to express condolences to the family of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and Karl Marx. https://t.co/vrg4PFrvyM
— Cap’n Jim Miller🇺🇸 (@FunnyJim1965) May 20, 2024
The U.S. under the Biden administration was not the only one who expressed condolences on the deceased president under whom his country remained the number 1 sponsor of terrorism in the world. The United Nations Security Council had also held a “moment of silence” in his honor.
NATO also offered condolences through spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah, writing, “Our condolences to the people of #Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash.”
Our condolences to the people of #Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash.
— NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah (@NATOpress) May 20, 2024
