The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, has elicited widespread reactions and discussions online. The crash, which also claimed the lives of several high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, occurred in the forested area of Dezmar in East Azerbaijan, Iran, following the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi Dam​.

Online discussions have centered on Raisi’s controversial political career and the potential implications for Iran’s future. Raisi, known for his hardline stances and close ties with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was a polarizing figure. His tenure was marked by heightened tensions with the West, ongoing protests within Iran, and complex relationships with neighboring countries and international entities​ ​.

WNM prepared the following roundup on the social media chatter around the death of Iranian president.

Key Themes and Discussions

Numerous posts from global leaders and international organizations expressed sympathy and condolences to the people of Iran. The solidarity shown by various nations underscores the global impact of Raisi’s death.

At the same time, users across Twitter are expressing discontent with the mourning of the late Iranian president by world leaders:

Comments under the UN meeting video show users’ discontent and accusations of hypocrisy:

Mentions of Raisi’s demise rapidly climbed to the top of X trends. Notably, he is frequently referred to with the tag “Butcher of Tehran.”

Keywords trending on X

To further explore the nature of the online discussion, WNM researched the replies left by users under the post about the crash on the official account of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Posts in English contain the same narratives, jokes, and memes that have been circulating on social media these days:

The Farsi account of the Iranian leader, however, has more diverse sentiments in the replies. Alongside expressions of condolences and mourning for the late president, users also conveyed discontent with the regime and wished for the same fate to befall Khamenei.

Reply by user @Ebne_noah saying: “There is no greater humiliation than that your death becomes the joy of millions of people, know that in your time, we will see the world as Golestan”

Comment by user @AkhoondeMorde in Farsi translated as “When will the news of the death of your martyrdom be heard?”

Comment made by @beshghiran saying: “Your martyrdom death will make a difference, Ali, I see that day when you will be torn into pieces by the Iranian nation <…>”

Meanwhile, Iranian media sources report large gatherings of people in Iranian cities to mourn the late leader.

Posts on X have been undermining the late President Raisi. The latest image appears to be AI-generated and references the recent Iranian protests, during which women cut their hair. The picture includes the names of women killed in the protests written in Farsi: “Mehsa, Nika, Hadith, Hananeh, Sarina, Ghazaleh, Armite, Yalda”

Discussions on X reveal that the death of Ebrahim Raisi was a significant international event, resonating with people worldwide. Social media users expressed a mix of condolences and joy over the Iranian president’s death. Interestingly, the positions of individuals were not tied to their country of origin; many sympathetic comments came from Western audiences, while numerous critical statements were made by Farsi-speaking users:

This event provided a platform for users to voice their opinions about the Iranian regime, allowing policymakers to gauge real-life reactions and societal sentiments. Speculation and discourse about Iran’s succession and immediate political future are rampant. With Vice President Mohammad Mokhber assuming interim presidential duties, analysts are closely monitoring how this transition will impact Iran’s domestic and foreign policies.

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