Mattarella, Meloni express Italy's solidarity with Iran

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 20 - President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni on Monday expressed Italy's condolences after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was among the victims of a helicopter crash.
    "I want to express my solidarity and Italy's solidarity with the Iranian government and the Iranian people," Meloni told Mediaset television. "I see that over the last few hours that the Iranian authorities have given credit to the thesis that it was an accident, rather than conspiracy interpretations," she continued.
    "At the moment, I do not foresee major changes in Iran's internal structure".
    Mattarella voiced his sympathy too.
    "I express my condolences for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and all the victims of the air disaster that took place yesterday," Mattarella said.
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that he does not think the helicopter crash will add to the tension in the Middle East.
    "There is no suggestion there was an attack," he said as he arrived at the Youth 7 Italy 2024 Summit.
    "It seems to have been an accident due to bad weather, or perhaps a technical problem.
    "So I would say there shouldn't be any consequences or major shocks. "I would like to reassure everyone, there should be no negative consequences abroad. "Our fellow (Italian) citizens (in Iran) are fine "There don't seem to be any negative consequences for the situation in Iran at the moment.
    "We will assess what is going to happen in the coming hours, but, since there are no signs of external activity, as confirmed by the Iranian authorities, it was an accident".
    Tajani also reiterated Italy's solidarity for Iran.
    "We are sorry. We had spoken to the foreign minister a few weeks ago," he said, referring to Amirabdollahian, who also died in the crash.
    "Even when you do not agree with each other, death is always a bad thing. "We all express our condolences". (ANSA).