The loss of President Raisi, along with other senior officials, marks a significant moment in Iranian history, and the nation is left mourning the abrupt and tragic end of its leader.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in a mountainous area of northwest Iran. The tragic incident occurred amidst thick fog, which may have contributed to the crash.
Rescuers discovered the burned remains of the aircraft on Monday morning, after President Raisi had been missing for more than 12 hours. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters, “President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash.”
Iran’s Mehr news agency echoed this somber announcement, reporting, “All passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred.”
State television reported that the helicopter had smashed into a mountain, and while no official cause has been confirmed, the dense fog in the area at the time is being considered a likely factor.
“President Raisi’s helicopter was completely burned in the crash… unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead,” an official told Reuters.
Drone footage from the crash site revealed the tail of the helicopter and scattered debris. According to the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, rescuers spotted the wreckage from approximately 1.25 miles away. The search effort, involving both civilian and military teams, was severely hindered by fog and the remote location.
In response to this national tragedy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of national mourning.
The state-run IRNA news agency reported that First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed to take charge temporarily. According to Iranian law, new elections must be held within 50 days to elect a new president.
The loss of President Raisi, along with other senior officials, marks a significant moment in Iranian history, and the nation is left mourning the abrupt and tragic end of its leader.
