Bowing to pressure from Russia, China, and Algeria, the United States and other United Nations representatives stood for a moment of silence for President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran, known as the "Butcher of Tehran" who was recently killed in a helicopter crash.
Raisi came to prominence during the Iranian Revolution, as the deputy prosecutor of Tehran in the 1980’s. He ordered the executions of thousands of political prisoners, many of whom were also secretly held during the revolutionary purge, tortured, and hanged publicly from cranes to instill fear in the civilian population.
Amnesty International says that to this day the location of the bodies is concealed by the Iranian government.
In this context, the United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, stood in a moment of silence for the Butcher of Tehran.
In a statement that does not mention Iran’s role in the October 7th attacks on Israel and the taking of hostages, some of whom are American, the Biden administration sent condolences to Iran.
The State Department released a statement saying, "The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi… in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms."
State Department officials tried to put their actions at the U.N. and condolences in the context of “regretting the loss of any life.”
"Some of the worst human rights abuses occurred during his tenure as president, especially the human rights abuses against the women and girls of Iran," State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said, but qualified.
"That said, we regret any loss of life. We don’t want to see anyone die in a helicopter crash. But that doesn’t change the reality of his record, both as a judge and as the president of Iran."
Israel reacted harshly to these moves by the Biden administration and the U.N.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the United Nations "bowed its head for a man responsible for massacring and murdering thousands in Iran, in Israel, and around the globe. What’s next? Will the Council dedicate a moment of silence to commemorate Hitler?"
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was just as harsh in her criticism.
"Biden’s State Department expressing condolences for the death of a brutal and monstrous enemy of America who tortured and killed his people and led the charge to fund terrorist proxies around the world that have killed American soldiers is a new low for Joe Biden," Stefanik said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
"Sec. Blinken’s weak leadership and eagerness to appease the hostile Iranian regime reflects Biden’s policy of rolling over for our nation's adversaries. It is unacceptable, unnecessary, and outrageous for the State Department to issue condolences for the death of an enemy."
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., wrote on X:
"The United States SHOULD NOT be sending condolences. The world is a safer place WITHOUT him. Ebrahim Raisi was known as the ‘Butcher of Tehran’ for a REASON. He was an evil tyrant who persecuted & killed thousands of innocent Iranians & was a protégé of the Ayatollah himself,” added Rep. Donalds.
During a congressional hearing questioning Secretary Antony Blinken, Senator Jon Barrasso (R-WY) had a sharp exchange with Blinken saying, “I think it's shocking that this administration would mourn the death of the “Butcher of Tehran.” He's responsible for death, rape, torture, the sworn enemy of the free world. So I think it's a terrible mistake, Mr. Secretary."