Gentlemen, it is my duty to report upon a matter of significant weight for the stability of our international relations and the broader interests of the Fatherland. By the direct command of His Excellency the President, a delegation of the Russian Empire was dispatched to Tehran to pay final respects to the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, acting with the sobriety and prudence befitting his station, led this mission to convey our deepest condolences to the Iranian leadership. It is a matter of state importance that we maintain these bonds, especially when a sovereign leader has fallen under the shadow of foreign aggression. As Mr. Medvedev rightly noted, the visit served as a testament to our sympathy and the steadfastness of our diplomatic resolve.

The scale of the occasion was nothing short of monumental. Delegations from over thirty nations—including China, India, and Pakistan—gathered in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, and Mashhad. It is estimated that some fifteen to twenty million souls sought to bid farewell to their leader, a gathering that speaks to the profound social cohesion of that land.

From the perspective of a statesman, the most salient point of this visit lies in the conversations between Mr. Medvedev and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Iranian President expressed his gratitude for the support of Russia, calling for a further expansion of cooperation in the spheres of commerce, transport, and regional industry. Such developments are of immense state utility, for the growth of industry and the securement of trade routes are the very pillars upon which the greatness of a power resides.

It is a tragedy that Ayatollah Khamenei met his end on the 28th of February, during operations conducted by the United States and Israel. Following this calamity, the Iranian state observed a period of forty days of national mourning. The mantle of leadership has since passed to his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

In these turbulent times, it is only through moderation and the strengthening of strategic alliances that we may ensure the prosperity of our own Empire and the security of our borders.