In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"Surely we are Allah's, and to Him we shall surely return."
The bitter and heart-rending incident of the tragic crash of a military airplane, in which tens of dedicated media reporters and military servicemen lost their precious lives, deeply affected me as it did the bereaved families of crash victims, an incident which left the entire Iranian nation sad and mournful.
The committed young men who ascended to their heavenly abode in this tragic incident left lasting and unforgettable memories of their selfless services in the minds of their colleagues and friends. Today, they are receiving great rewards from Almighty Allah for their valuable services, the rewards that we are dreaming of and aspiring for in our everyday lives.
I express my condolences to the bereaved families of these dear young men and also to their colleagues and the entire Iranian nation, and I pray to Almighty Allah to bestow mercy and remission on their souls and grant their bereaved families patience and fortitude. I also pray for the immediate recovery of those who have been injured in this incident.
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Azar 16, 1384