- In a tragic incident in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian have died in a helicopter crash.
- Rescuers located the crash site after searching for hours in challenging weather conditions.
- Iran’s vice president will take on the powers of the presidency, with new elections scheduled to occur within 50 days.
- Nations across the Middle East have expressed solidarity with Iran.
Who are the other officials who died in the helicopter crash?
Several senior Iranian officials were also killed alongside Raisi in the helicopter crash in the Dizmar forest, situated between Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azerbaijan Province.
- Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
- East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati
- Representative of the Iranian supreme leader in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem
- Presidential guard Mahdi Mousavi
- The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot and crew were also among others killed on board the chopper.
Raisi and his companions were returning from an event with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev when the crash occurred.
India’s Narendra Modi says he is shocked by ‘tragic’ death of Raisi
The Indian prime minister expressed he was “deeply saddened” by Raisi’s death, noting that the late Iranian president had significantly contributed “to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship.”
“My sincere condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” Modi wrote in a social media post.
Obituary: Raisi dies at age 63
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has passed away following a helicopter crash in a mountainous and forested region of the country during inclement weather.
The 63-year-old, a prominent figure representing conservative and hardline factions in Iranian politics, served as president for almost three years and seemed poised to seek re-election next year.
A former chief justice, Raisi was touted as a potential successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 85-year-old supreme leader of Iran.
Read Raisi’s obituary here.
Former Iranian FM Zarif posts message of condolences
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has offered his condolences on the “martyrdom” of his successor Hossein Amirabdollahian along with President Raisi.
Zarif referred to Amirabdollahian as “my dear brother.”
In an Instagram post, Zarif expressed that the news of the accident was “painful.”
“I pray for God’s blessings upon the martyrs, peace and patience for the survivors, and unity and advancement for the Iranian people.”
