The chopper carrying Iranian president and his companions, including Iranian minister of foreign affairs, Hosain Amirabdollahian, crashed yesterday, May 19, while returning from a mission to inaugurate a dam on Aras border river in the presence of his counterpart from Azerbaijan Republic, Elham Aliyev.

The message of the OPEC’s Secretary General is as follows:

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) extends its sincerest and deepest condolences on the passing of HE Ayatollah Dr Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to his family, the leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the entire OPEC Family.

OPEC Secretary General, HE Haitham Al Ghais, said: “It is with great sadness and deep sorrow that we have learned of the tragic passing of HE Ayatollah Dr Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and other senior government officials. In these difficult times, on behalf of myself and all the staff at the OPEC Secretariat, I extend my condolences and sympathy to the esteemed leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the families of HE President Raisi and other officials.”

HE Al Ghais met with HE President Raisi in May 2023 in Tehran, IR Iran, during the Secretary General’s first official visit to the OPEC Founding Member. The meeting focused on IR Iran’s role in the global oil and energy markets, as well as the future outlook for investments in the oil industry in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The entire OPEC Family commiserates with the family of HE Dr Raisi, and the leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.