US Official Stands For Moment Of Silence For Dead Iranian President

The American ambassador to the United Nations stood for a moment of silence marking the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this week. The action took place just one day after the president of the Islamic Republic was reported missing, and then dead in a remote part of the country.

The United Nations held a moment of silence Monday at the request of several nations, including Russia and China. The United States Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood stood for the memorial at the U.N. Security Council.

Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan called the move a “disgrace.”

“The UN Security Council observed a moment of silence today in memory of the mass murdering Iranian President Raisi, who is responsible for the murder of thousands! What is next for the Security Council? A moment of silence on the anniversary of Hitler’s death?!” he wrote on social media.

“The Security Council has simply become a danger to world peace,” he added.

What a disgrace‼️

The UN Security Council observed a moment of silence today in memory of the mass murderering Iranian President Raisi, who is responsible for the murder of thousands! What is next for the Security Council? A moment of silence on the anniversary of Hitler's… pic.twitter.com/68n2OAHANT

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) May 20, 2024

The news came in slowly on Sunday as the helicopter ferrying the president and several other significant officials flew in the nation’s north. However, news reports emerged that the helicopter was missing.

The weather conditions in the mountainous area were difficult that day and particularly foggy. After hours of searching, the crash site was located.

Rescuers on the scene confirmed that the president had died in the crash, alongside the country’s foreign minister and the governor of a nearby province.

The Islamic Republic declared a period of mourning for its fallen president, with a funeral expected on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would take part in the funeral procession.

The country also announced elections to replace the late president, setting them for June. Candidates for the office must be okayed by a religious council before they can make it on the ballot.

Despite the title, Raisi did not hold most of the power in the country. The true power lies in the religious Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is also a former president of the country.