Iran expresses grief at deaths of American people by Hurricane Katrina disaster Iran-US-Condolence Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi on Tuesday expressed grief at deaths of people in the United States caused by Hurricane Katrina. He said that Iranian nation and government sympathize with American people especially the bereaved families of the natural disaster. He hoped that situation in the flood hit states of America would return to normal soon. At least 50 people died in Mississippi and flood waters poured into low-lying New Orleans through levees battered by powerful Hurricane Katrina.