The Biden administration’s statement extending “official condolences” for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known by critics as the “Butcher of Tehran,” drew outrage from congressional Republicans.

“It is absurd that the Biden administration touted their support for human rights while, in the same breath, offering official condolences for the ‘Butcher of Tehran,’” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer posted Tuesday on X. “Clearly, the Democrat Party of today has become the pro-terrorist party.”

Mr. Raisi, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, was one of several people killed Sunday when their helicopter crashed in Iran’s mountainous northwest region amid thick fog, prompting a response Monday from the State Department.

“The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. “As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

He defended the statement at Monday’s press conference, noting that the U.S. had issued statements of condolence for Soviet strongman Josef Stalin and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, “people with whom we had great disagreements.”

Republicans accused the Biden administration of going soft on the Iranian hardliner, who was elected president in 2021 after a prosecutorial career that included the widely condemned 1988 execution of political prisoners. Mr. Raisi also praised the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians and others.

Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, replied on X: “Under the ‘Butcher of Tehran,’ Iran armed and assisted terrorists with American blood on their hands. Offering condolences for the death of this monster is a disgrace.”

“Biden’s State Department expressing condolences for the death of a brutal and monstrous enemy of America who tortured and killed his own people and led the charge to fund terrorist proxies around the world that have killed American soldiers is a new low for Joe Biden,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, posted Tuesday on X.

The Republican Jewish Coalition called the administration’s statement “Mortifying.”

“Why is it so hard for this administration to recognize that we should not be coddling terrorist-supporting regimes with the blood of Americans and our allies on its hands?” the organization posted on X.

The Zionist Organization of America called it “extremely disappointing, to say the least, that the Biden administration, via State Department top spokesman Matthew Miller, offered ‘official condolences’ for Raisi’s death.”

The Biden administration wasn’t alone. The U.N. Security Council stood Monday for a “minute of silence” in remembrance of the Iranian leader, an honor condemned by the Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan.

“The blood of thousands of innocent Iranians is on his hands,” Amb. Erdan said in a U.N. speech. “Women, members of the LGBTQ community, peaceful protesters and many, many others. He is responsible for butchering thousands around the globe — thousands. This is who the security council dedicates a moment of silence to — a terrorist?”

He posted on Tuesday photos of the U.N. lowering its flag to half-staff “in honor of Iran’s mass-murdering President and Foreign Minister. Unbelievable!”

“This is beyond disgraceful. It is an offense to true supporters of human rights worldwide,” Mr. Erdan said. “The next time the UN issues a statement on human rights, remember that it is the same organization that gave the red carpet treatment to these mass-murderers in life and death.”

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Authority, posted his condolences on X and observed a minute of silence during the International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna.

The platform’s readers swung back by adding context, to wit: “Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi killed thousands of innocent people for no reason, earning himself the nickname ‘The Butcher of Tehran.’”

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.