TEHRAN, May 20 (MNA) – The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condoled the martyrdom of Iran's President and his accompanying delegation.

Speaking at the opening of the International Conference on Nuclear Security on Monday, Rafael Grossi offered his condolences over the tragic death of the Iranian President, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of the Iranian delegation.

He added, "Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time".

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have martyred in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

It was transporting Raeisi, Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, and a member of the president’s bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot, and crew were also among others on board the chopper.

President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

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