News - World: The United Nations has flown its flag at half mast as a sign of respect to victims of a helicopter crash in Iran that involved President Ebrahim Raeisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other senior officials.

The UN flag was at half mast on Tuesday after a ceremony in the international organization’s headquarters in New York where Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani and his deputy Zahra Ershadi were in present.

It came a day after UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a message to offer his condolences to the Iranian people and government over the helicopter crash that took place over the weekend in the northwest of the country and led to the deaths of Raisi and other senior officials.

The UN Security Council also observed a minute of silence before its Monday meeting in remembrance of the loss of those who died in the crash. The move was requested by Russia, China and Algeria on behalf of all UNSC members.

Raisi and Amirabdollahian, along with two top local officials of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, were returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on Iran’s border with the Republic of Azerbaijan on Sunday when their helicopter crashed in mountainous areas in Varzaqan region.

Two bodyguards, two pilots and a crew of the helicopter were also killed in the incident.

Source: Press TV