Iran FM Condoles Hassan Habibiˈs Death

Tehran, Feb 2, IRNA - Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has offered his condolences on Thursday on death of the member of Expediency Council. In a message on Thursday, Salehi described the death of such a prominent politician as a painful loss for all Iranians. Expressing deep sorrow over the sad event, FM condoled with his bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah for his salvation. Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini and several other high-ranking officials had also issued messages of condolence in separate messages on Thursday on death of Habibi. Hassan Ebrahim Habibi, member of Expediency Discernment Council and First Deputy President in Construction in Reformist governments passed away Thursday morning after years of fighting with disease. Habibi has had served in many positions in the Islamic Revolution and Islamic Republic of Iran system. Among the positions he served have been First Deputy Presidency in Hashemi and Khatami governments, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Bazargan’s cabinet, presidency of Academy of Persian Language and Literature, presidency of Iranology Foundation, and membership in Expediency Council from its inception to present./end