Republican U.S. Senators slammed President Joe Biden’s administration this week for offering condolences after Iran’s president was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

The helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian crashed in Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province after encountering extremely thick fog.

“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,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) slammed Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a hearing this week over the statement.

“I don’t think it should be a normal course of business. I think it’s shocking that this administration would mourn the death of the ‘Butcher of Tehran.’ I don’t,” Barrasso said. “He’s responsible for death, rape, torture, the sworn enemy of the free world. So I think it’s a terrible mistake, Mr. Secretary.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP

WATCH:

Yesterday, @StateDept issued a statement mourning the death of Iranian President Raisi – a mass murderer who targeted, threatened, and attacked Americans.

I think it’s shocking that this administration would mourn the death of the “Butcher of Tehran.” It’s a terrible mistake. pic.twitter.com/nKwSHuRUG2

— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) May 21, 2024

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) responded to the statement 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.”

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. https://t.co/dO8bF2Jspt

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) May 20, 2024

Sen. Joni Ernst also responded on X: “This is the ‘Butcher of Tehran’ who chants death to America. The President of the United States should not express his condolences to our adversary as Iran continues to kill U.S. officials and citizens.”

This is the “Butcher of Tehran” who chants death to America.

The President of the United States should not express his condolences to our adversary as Iran continues to kill U.S. officials and citizens. pic.twitter.com/Nv8i160uYO

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) May 20, 2024

The U.S. Intelligence Community believes that the Russian government has launched an anti-Satellite weapon into space that is currently deployed near American satellites.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, who serves as the U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations, made the revelation on Monday while speaking at the U.N.

“On May 16, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that the United States assesses is likely a counterspace weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit,” Wood said. “Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the same orbit as a US government satellite.”

CNN noted that Russia previously launched an anti-Satellite weapon into space back in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

The news comes after U.S. officials warned earlier this year that they believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) brought attention to the matter in February when he warned that a foreign adversary was working on creating a “destabilizing” weapon and urged President Joe Biden to declassify the intelligence surrounding the weapon. Subsequent reporting said that the potential weapon would be used to knock out satellites critical to U.S. national security.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP

Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution last month proposed by the United States and Japan reaffirming the obligation of countries that signed the Outer Space Treaty not to place nuclear weapons in orbit around the Earth. The resolution would ban member states from developing nuclear weapons specifically designed to be placed in orbit.

“As we have noted previously, the United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement in April. “We have heard President Putin say publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space. If that were the case, Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.”

Related: Biden Admin Reportedly Warning Putin Not To Put Nuke In Space