Tehran, July 5, IRNA – Iran on Tuesday mourned death of prominent Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami. Popular figures from the government and the Arts Community and cultural figures expressed condolence to the Iranians on the great loss.

Iranian internationally acclaimed film director Abbas Kiarostami, with legacy of 'The Taste of Cherry' and 'Where is Friend's Home', died in Paris hospital on July 4 at the age of 76.

Secretary of Fajr Film Festival Mohammad Heydari, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education Seyed Hassan Hashemi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-Africa Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Director General for political and international security of Foreign Ministry Hamid Baeedinejad and Managing Director of Visual Arts Media Institute Seyed Mostafa Abtahi were among officials who offered their condolences.

Heydari wrote in his message 'the loss is great. It is a great shock … a shock which takes long to get out from Iranian cinema.'

He said that Iranians are not alone in loss of the a great compatriot, the World cinema community share mourning the loss in grief.

Baeedinejad wrote in his personal telegram page 'Cut', we all were surprised, cinema community got sad!'

'For sure, he will remain as a legend, a man who had a poetical view on Cinema and film and gave a new identity to Iranian cinema.'

Chancellor of Art Academy Gholamreza Akrami in his message offered condolences to all artists and art lovers on demise of Iranian great film director.

Managing director of Documentary and Experimental Film Center Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei-nejad called Kiarostami as an artist of initiative, who had great affects on Iran's seventh art.

Member of Parliament and head of parliamentary fraction of Hope Mohammad Reza Aaref called Kiarostami as a valuable asset for Iranian cinema and the arta community and expressed deep sorrow for the great loss.

Head of National Library and Archives Organization of Iran Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri wrote in his message that the sorrowful death of Iranian great and honored movie director Abbas Kiarostami created a wave of regret and pity for Iranian art lovers.

Kiarostami promoted Iran's position in the arts community by his unique morality-oriented movies with themes of 'Peace, friendship and relief to human pains.'

Theatre House of Iran also issued a condolence message and called demise of the prominent artist as a sad departure and condoled with the artists community and Iranian nation.

Managing Director of Institute for the Intellectual Development of the Children and Young Adults Alireza Hajianzadeh wrote in his message that the great artist since 50 years ago by his films at this institute opened a new road for new generation.

Managing Director of Farabi Cinema Foundation Alireza Tabesh said it is hard to believe 'we were forced to say goodbye to Abbas Kiarostami, it was a sad night for Iranian cinema.'

Head of Majlis cultural commission Nasrollah Pejmanfar expressed sorrow and regret for demise of such well-known artist and offered his condolences to family and the arts community of Iran.

By IRNA