US 'reaffirms support for Iranian people' after Raisi death

President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi speaks during Ramadan meeting with a group of benefactors and officials of charitable institutions. -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

The United States has expressed its "official condolences" for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash.

"As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms," the State Department said in a written statement on Monday.

The Iranian leadership sees the US as its arch-enemy, and the two sides have repeatedly been on the brink of war in the past.

In recent months in particular, tensions have escalated dramatically due to the Middle East conflict.