Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko blamed US sanctions for being a factor in the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and his companions, as not being able to import parts for the US-made copter contributed to its malfunction.

During a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko said, “As a person, and not as a president, I will say that the vile, disgusting position of the United States led to this”.  

He added, “I mean, first of all, the sanctions. These scoundrels had no right to impose sanctions against ships, against planes, helicopters that transport people,” Lukashenko added.

“They banned their companies from servicing [Raisi’s helicopter]. Therefore, this is also their fault.”

Russian President Putin commented that the two accompanying helicopters as part of the president’s convoy were Russian-made and “flew without any special difficulties in the same conditions, in the same corridor, in fact, without any problems”.

The Belarusian president continued to express hope that Iran would eventually “figure out what happened there,” as he called Raisi “a normal, kind person who conducted a frank, honest dialogue, was concerned about the development of his own state and protecting the interests of his own people.” 

Read next: Leaders at Raisi funeral clear proof Iran not isolated in face of West

'Belarus's true friends have passed away'

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry issued a statement previously saying the loss of President Raisi and his companions was not only a loss for the Iranian people but for Belarus as well. "Belarus's true friends have passed away".

Russia on its part also said it will always remember "these outstanding political figures as true patriots of the Islamic Republic, who firmly defended the interests of their state and gave their lives to selfless service to the motherland," the statement further read.

This comes shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a congressional testimony, "Bearing in mind the horrific acts in which he was involved as a judge and president, and the fact that he cannot be involved in them in the slightest, yes, the Iranian people are probably better off," in response to a question, before adding, "We are definitely not grieving over his death."

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin criticized the remarks made by Blinken regarding Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 20, calling them "insolent and inhumane."

In the preliminary probe, President Raisi's helicopter followed its pre-planned itinerary and did not divert from it, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran said, stressing that the helicopter's pilot was in contact with the crewmembers of the two other helicopters that were part of the presidential convoy.

"There were no marks indicating that the helicopter was shot down or came under any attack," the probe added. "The President's helicopter caught fire upon crashing into the hills".

The search and rescue operations for the helicopter, the statement said, continued until 5:00 am (local time) due to the rugged nature of the terrain, the fog, and the harsh weather.