As per an official US statement, the US will not attend the UN memorial service on Thursday in honor of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter accident earlier this month.
In order to honor any international leader who was a head of state in office when they passed away, the 193-member UN General Assembly convenes annually. Speaking about Raisi, there will be tributes.
According to a US official who spoke to Reuters under anonymity, “We won’t attend this event in any capacity.” It was previously unknown about the US boycott.
The Iranian embassy in New York refuses to comment on the situation.
Hardliner Raisi, who was viewed as the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s possible successor, died on May 19 when his helicopter crashed inclement weather in the mountains close to the border with Azerbaijan.
“The United Nations should be standing with the people of Iran, not memorializing their decades-long oppressor,” stated the US diplomat. “Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.”
“Some of the worst human rights abuses on record, especially against the women and girls of Iran, took place during his tenure,” according to the official.
On May 20, the UN Security Council observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the helicopter crash at the start of an unconnected meeting. Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, grudgingly stood with his 14 colleagues.
The State Department declared on May 20 that the US has sent its “official condolences” on Raisi’s passing.
