Large crowds pour across Iran to remember late president Ebrahim Raisi

TEHRAN: A large number of Iranians poured out on the streets to remember their late president Ebrahim Raisi and bid farewell to him ahead of his funeral after he was declared dead on Monday.

People holding placards of Raisi and waving flags took to streets in the eastern city of Birjand on Thursday morning to bid the president farewell a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led his funeral prayers in Tehran.

Raisi, as reported by Reuters, will be buried at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad today.

Aged 63, the late president was travelling with his Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other high officials when their helicopter crashed in the country's mountainous northwest while returning from a dam inauguration.

Those accompanying the Iranian president included Supreme Leader Khamenei's representative Ali Ale-Hashem, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, two bodyguards, two pilots and one crew member.

All passengers, including Raisi, were declared dead when charred wreckage of the Bell 212 helicopter was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.

Tehran has launched an investigation into the helicopter crash with Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri constituting a probe committee headed by Brigadier Ali Abdollahi.

It was reported that the findings of the incident’s investigation would be made public.

Large photos of Raisi and black flags have been erected throughout the streets of Iran's second city, particularly around the Imam Reza shrine.

Meanwhile, FM Abdollahian will be buried at the shrine of Shah Abdol-Azim in the town of Shahr-Rey south of the capital today.