Araqchi Condoles Qatar over Passing of Former Emir

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Araqchi expressed condolences following the death of the former Emir of Qatar.

“It is with profound sorrow and sadness that we extend our condolences on the passing of the father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

“We express our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the esteemed Al Thani family, and the brotherly nation of Qatar,” he said.

“We pray to Almighty God to grant the deceased His mercy and forgiveness, and to bestow patience and fortitude upon all the bereaved,” he added.

⁠Sheikh Hamad bin ⁠Khalifa Al Thani died at the age of ⁠74 on Sunday.

Qatar has announced a four-day period of public mourning starting Monday, with work suspended at government agencies and public bodies and flags to be lowered to half-mast.

Sheikh Hamad, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, was a key architect of the energy-rich country’s development.

In 2013, he handed over power to his son and heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who was then 33, in a rare ‌abdication by a hereditary Persian Gulf Arab ruler./tasnim