KUALA LUMPUR: Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike recently, was described as a fair and brave figure among Iranians.
Iranian embassy in Malaysia deputy head of mission Mohammadredza Baksahraei fondly recalled his friendship with Nasrallah, whom he first met over 32 years ago during his diplomatic posting in Lebanon.
Baksahraei shared that their connection began when he arrived in Lebanon shortly after Nasrallah was elected as Hizbollah's leader, following the assassination of former leader Abbas al-Musawi by an Israeli airstrike in 1992.
"He was my friend for more than 32 years. At that time, I was in Lebanon as an Iranian diplomat.
"(Nasrallah) had just become the new leader of Hizbollah, and I saw firsthand his dedication and leadership," he said when met by the New Straits Times at the embassy's Cultural Centre.
Various representatives from other embassies such as Iraq and Syria were seen gathering to pay tribute to Nasrallah.
On Sept 27, an Israeli air strike on a suburb of Beirut killed Hizbollah's longtime leader Nasrallah, sparking fears of an all-out war in the region.
More than 700 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to health ministry figures, since the bombardment of Hizbollah strongholds began earlier this month.
Baksahraei said Nasrallah's death was a significant loss, not just for Shia Muslims but for the entire Islamic world.
He added that Nasrallah's legacy went beyond his service to the Muslim community, as he also championed the rights of Christians in Lebanon.
Baksahraei recalled a key moment when Nasrallah negotiated the release of prisoners of war between Israel and Hizbollah.
"He said, first of all, Israel must release the Christian prisoners of war, followed by Muslims and Shia.
"He didn't just serve Islam and Muslims. He served Christianity and other communities in Lebanon. He was a very, very brave man and a fair leader," he said.
Baksahraei also expressed Iran's respect for Malaysia's stance against Israel and the United States.
"Iran is eager to strengthen relations with Malaysia, hoping for expanded and deeper cooperation in the future."