By Ben Kerrigan-
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian have been confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in the foggy, mountainous region of northwestern Iran.
State media reported that the crash site was located in East Azerbaijan province, near the border with Azerbaijan.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
State news agency IRNA had earlier quoted “local sources” at the crash site in north-western Iran, confirming “the martyrdom of the president and his companions”.
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian also died in the crash.
Politicians and officials turned to social media to cite a Quranic verse used for the deceased. Mohsen Mansouri, a vice-president for executive affairs, wrote on X in Arabic: “We belong to God and to Him we return.”
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
According to the Iranian Constitution, the first vice president takes over in the event of a death of the prime minister, until an election is held within a maximum period of 50 days.
Rescue teams and soldiers confirmed the wreckage early Monday morning, with footage showing the site across a steep valley.
President Raisi, 63, and Amirabdollahian, 60, were among the high-profile officials killed in the crash. The governor of East Azerbaijan province and several other officials and bodyguards were also on board.
The group was returning from an event inaugurating a dam near the Azerbaijan border when the accident occurred.
This incident comes at a particularly volatile time for the Middle East, already inflamed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Raisi had recently authorized an unprecedented drone-and-missile strike on Israel, further escalating regional tensions.
Raisi’s administration also faced international scrutiny for enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels, supplying drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and supporting militia groups across the region.
The crash has shocked the nation and the international community. Condolences have poured in from global leaders, including Pakistan’s government, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed deep shock, noting Raisi was returning from their joint project when the crash occurred.
Supreme Leader Khamenei addressed the nation, urging prayers for the deceased and assuring that Iran’s governance would continue without interruption.
According to Iran’s constitution, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is set to assume the presidency with Khamenei’s approval, and a new election will be scheduled within 50 days.
President Raisi, a hard-line cleric and former judiciary chief, was viewed as a potential successor to the 85-year-old Khamenei. His presidency was marked by significant internal unrest, including widespread protests over the nation’s economic struggles and stringent social policies.
The 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, detained for allegedly violating hijab laws, ignited months of demonstrations and a harsh crackdown that resulted in over 500 deaths and 22,000 arrests.
This helicopter crash marks a significant moment for Iran, already grappling with internal dissent and international pressure.
The death will likely have profound implications for the country’s political landscape and its ongoing confrontations on the global stage.
Mohammad Mokhber has been declared Iran’s interim president and will serve initially for a maximum of 50 days, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has confirmed.
As interim president, Mr Mokhber is part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organise a new presidential election within that 50 day period.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar