Tok Mat pays tribute to Iranian counterpart who perished in copter crash

SEREMBAN: Dr Hossein Amirabdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash, had a vision to strengthen bilateral ties with Malaysia in various areas of mutual interest, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan of his Iranian counterpart.

Mohamad said the deaths of his counterpart and Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi were a great loss to the world of Islamic leadership as well as to the people of Iran.

"The last time I met my counterpart Dr Hossein Amirabdollahian was during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) ministerial-level open debate in the US in January. We later had a telephone conversation at the end of last April.

"The deceased was so visionary in efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Iran bilateral relations in various areas of mutual interest," he said in a social media post.

According to foreign media reports, Ebrahim, Dr Hossein and seven others perished in a helicopter crash in Iran's East Azerbaijan Province on Sunday.