U.S. boycotts the United Nations tribute to late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after he perished in helicopter crash
The US is boycotting the United Nations tribute to the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was dubbed ‘the Butcher of Tehran’ on Thursday.
At a sparsely attended UN General Assembly, delegates from around the world stood silent for a minute to pay their respects to the leader killed in a recent helicopter crash.
Several members from Iran were present and some UN leaders from around the world went there to express their condolences to the Iranians.
Surprisingly, no one from the US appeared to attend the session, in protest against the leader, who had a litany of well-documented human rights abuses.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses delegates at the United Nations General Assembly during a ceremonial tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at United Nations Headquarters in New York
Raisi was widely expected to succeed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before he was killed in a helicopter crash in northern Iran near the border with Azerbaijan.
The accident happened earlier this month on May 19.
Paying tribute to deceased world leaders is a typical practice for the 193-member General Assembly when a head of state dies in office.
Nate Evans, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said: “The United States will not be attending today’s United Nations tribute in honor of President Raisi in any capacity.”
“Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988,” Evans said. “Some of the worst human rights abuses ever recorded occurred during his tenure.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (L) stands during a moment of silence during a United Nations (UN) General Assembly tribute to the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at UN Headquarters in New York on May 30, 2024
Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Saeed Iravani (L) receives condolences during a United Nations (UN) General Assembly tribute to the late Iranian leader
Raisi was 63 years old and was killed along with several other state officials
Other UN delegates gave speeches during the roughly 50-minute memorial event.
Raisi rose to prominence for serving on a panel that oversaw the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in 1988.
The panel was convened to condemn political dissidents after the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted during the tribute that the late leader oversaw the country during turbulent times, both regionally and internationally.
“The United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in their pursuit of peace, development and fundamental freedoms,” Guterres said.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani also celebrated the late Raisi and others who died in the crash.
“They were not only figures of authority but also a symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring power of good governance and diplomacy,” Iravani saddened at the UN meeting.
Rescuers recover bodies at the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iran’s president, its foreign minister and others in a fog-covered mountainous area of Varzaghan in northwestern Iran on May 20, 2024
The crash took place in the northern part of Iran
Iranians living in New York protest the memorial ceremony of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
“We remain committed to upholding the principles of peace, security, justice and multilateralism that they tirelessly supported.”
Elections for a new president will take place in Iran on June 28.