Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials were confirmed dead in a helicopter accident in the northwest province of the country, according to Tehran.
Everyone on board, including the president, foreign minister, accompanying delegation, and helicopter crew, died, based on a statement made by Mohsen Mansouri, the deputy president for executive affairs in Iran, on his X account.
Following an overnight search during a blizzard, the burned wreckage of the helicopter that crashed, carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, six other passengers, and crew, was discovered early on May 21.
Post-crash implications
According to the official IRNA news agency, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber would assume the role of acting president per the orders of Supreme Leader Khamenei, who has the last say over matters of foreign policy and Iran's nuclear program.
"I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran," Khamenei said in a statement.
Iran has not provided an explanation for the accident or suggested that sabotage was the reason behind the helicopter's sudden crash in steep terrain.
After hours of searching, during which a Turkish Akinci drone assisted in locating the crash site, dozens of emergency rescue teams were sent to the hilly location, and the wreckage was eventually located.
Raisi’s life
Tens of thousands of opponents of the Islamist dictatorship were arrested, tortured, and killed under Raisi, 63, a conservative cleric and former head of the judiciary.
Raisi was responsible for decades of ruthless crackdowns against his own people's aspirations for more personal liberties and democracy.
As President, Reisi oversaw the ruthless suppression of the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. Over 500 people are thought to have died, while tens of thousands of more were detained.
Raisi was on his way back from meeting President Ilham Aliyev at the border with Azerbaijan prior to the tragedy. Together, they officially opened a sizable dam that borders the Aras River.
