Iranian Foreign Ministry Confirms Death of President Ebrahim Raisi in Helicopter Crash
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was also among the victims of the plane crash in the mountains near the border with Azerbaijan. According to official sources, the helicopter crash was attributed to adverse weather conditions on Sunday (19).
President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi - Photo Reproduction/Reuters/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed this Monday morning (20) the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, victim of a helicopter accident that occurred in the mountains near the border with Azerbaijan. The news was officially released through a press release. The plane crashed between the provinces of Pir Davood and Uzi, in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, located about 600 km northwest of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Iranian authorities report that an imam, a victim of the incident, managed to survive for an hour and sought assistance.
In addition to President Raisi, the accident also killed the country's chancellor, Hossein Amirabdollahian. Also on board the aircraft were Malek Rahmati, governor of East Azerbaijan province, and Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem, a religious leader. Although the deaths of the latter two have not yet been officially confirmed, state media previously reported the absence of survivors at the crash site.
Accident Details
According to preliminary information provided by Iranian authorities, the charred wreckage of the aircraft, which crashed on Sunday at around 1 p.m. (local time, 6 a.m. Brasília time) carrying President Raisi and his entourage including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were found on Monday morning after a nighttime search amid a blizzard that lasted about 12 hours. Fears grew for Raisi, a 63-year-old ultra-conservative, after he lost contact with his helicopter on Sunday while flying over fog-covered mountains in northwestern Iran.
The Red Crescent reported that more than 70 rescue teams, equipped with search dogs and drones, were sent to the scene. Furthermore, the chief of staff of the Iranian army ordered the mobilization of all resources of the army and the Revolutionary Guard. State news agency IRNA showed footage of an Iranian Red Crescent team climbing a hillside in dense fog, as well as live broadcasts of crowds of worshipers reciting prayers at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in the city of Mashhad, Raisi's hometown.
Rescue team members work at the site of the crash of a helicopter carrying Raisi in Varzaghan, northwest Iran - Photo Reproduction/Azin Haghighi/MOJ News Agency/AFP/Getty Images
In addition to the difficulties in accessing the area, the adverse weather conditions complicated rescue efforts. The helicopter was spotted by members of the Iranian Red Crescent, a sister institution of the Red Cross that operates in Islamic nations, after a Turkish drone equipped with heat sensors was dispatched to locate the scene of the incident. Initially, Iran's interior minister claimed that the helicopter carrying the president had made an emergency landing. Official media later reported that the aircraft was involved in an accident due to poor weather conditions.
Raisi was in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan on Sunday morning to inaugurate a dam together with the country's president, Ilham Aliyev. This is the third dam that the two nations have built on the Aras River. The visit took place despite tense relations between the two countries, worsened by an armed attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran in 2023 and Azerbaijan's diplomatic relations with Israel, which is seen as the main enemy of Iran's Shiite theocracy in the region.
Official and National Reaction
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader with decisive authority over Iran's foreign policy and nuclear program, announced that Mohammad Mokhber, the first vice president, will take over as interim president. Additionally, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed as acting foreign minister.
“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” Khamenei said. Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Khamenei.
According to Iran's Constitution, a new presidential election must take place within 50 days.
International repercussions
Leaders of several countries expressed their condolences to the Iranian people. According to Reuters news agency, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, expressed his condolences.
"We sincerely extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as all the friendly people of Iran. Our thoughts and hearts are with you at this sad hour."
At a press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed his regret over the death of the Iranian president.
"From the first moment we heard about the accident, we have been in contact with the Iranian authorities and mobilized all means to assist in the (rescue) efforts. Relevant institutions, including our Ministry of Defense and the AFAD disaster authority, They did their best, but unfortunately we didn't succeed", said the minister.
Lebanon declared a three-day period of national mourning in memory of Raisi, who died.
"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic passing away of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this moment of sadness."
Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who also serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his condolences to Dr. Mohammad Mokhber, First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the tragic loss of President Raisi and other Iranian officials, victims of a helicopter crash, he raised his prayers to God, asking for his mercy on them. France expressed its condolences through a brief statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement stated: "France extends its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran on the loss of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and their companions."
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also offered his condolences over the tragedy, followed by reactions from International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi, who held a minute's silence during an international nuclear safety conference in Vienna. The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, expressed deep emotion, highlighting solidarity with the pain of the Iranian people, understanding the impact of sudden losses on the political and social elite. Furthermore, the NATO spokesperson, through the X platform (formerly Twitter), extended his condolences to the Iranian nation for the loss of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, in a post written in Persian.
Career of Ebrahim Raisi
Ebrahim Raisi, 63 years old, assumed the presidency of Iran in August 2021, after winning the presidential elections in the 1st round with a platform focused on combating corruption, improving the country's economy and strengthening international relations and with record abstention and in which several opponents were prevented from participating by the Constitution's Guardian Council. Among those excluded from the electoral race were prominent figures such as former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, current Vice President Es-Hagh Jahanguiri and reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh.
In the 1980s, Raisi was involved in the so-called "death commissions", which resulted in the execution of around 5,000 opposition activists who opposed the ayatollahs' regime. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Raisi due to his participation in these executions. In 2022, during Raisi's term, the Iranian government responded with violence to protests demanding justice for the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died three days after being detained for not obeying dress codes in public places (see video below ).
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), more than 500 protesters were killed during the protests. At the time, Raisi declared that Iran needed to "determinedly address those who oppose the country's security and peace." Known for his firm stance, Raisi before his presidency had a long career in the Iranian judiciary, holding positions such as Chief of Judiciary. His closeness to Khamenei has led some analysts to speculate about the possibility of him succeeding the 85-year-old leader.
Political Consequences
With Raisi's death, vice-president Mohammad Mokhber is expected to assume the interim presidency until new elections are called. Political analysts predict a period of uncertainty, but highlight the robustness of Iranian institutions in maintaining political stability. The nation is preparing for a period of official mourning, with flags at half-mast and public events honoring the late president. Funeral ceremonies are expected to take place in the coming days, with the participation of political and religious leaders from across the country.
