Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash Near Azerbaijan Border
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known for his hardline stance and seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, according to officials and state media on Monday.
The charred remains of the helicopter, which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, were discovered early Monday following an overnight search amid blizzard conditions.
“President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all passengers aboard the helicopter died in the crash,” a senior Iranian official informed Reuters, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
Raisi’s death was later confirmed through a social media statement by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and also reported on state television.
State TV indicated that images from the crash site showed the aircraft had collided with a mountain peak, although the cause of the crash has not been officially determined.
The state news agency IRNA reported that Raisi was traveling in a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter.
Raisi, aged 63, was elected president in 2021. During his tenure, he enforced stricter morality laws, led a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, and took a firm stance in nuclear negotiations with global powers.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate authority over Iran’s foreign policy and nuclear program, attempted to reassure the public that state affairs would continue without disruption.
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Rescue teams braved blizzards and difficult terrain throughout the night, reaching the crash site early Monday morning.
“With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers,” Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, stated on state TV.
Earlier, the national broadcaster interrupted regular programming to show prayers being offered for Raisi across the country.
Video footage showed rescue teams, wearing bright jackets and head torches, gathered around a GPS device as they searched a dark mountainside in blizzard conditions.
Several countries expressed concern and offered assistance.
The White House reported that U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed about the crash. China expressed deep concern, and the European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
The crash occurred amid rising dissent in Iran over various political, social, and economic issues.
Iran’s clerical rulers are under international pressure regarding Tehran’s contentious nuclear program and its increasing military ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, prompting Israel’s assault on Gaza, conflicts involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted across the Middle East.
In Iran’s dual political system, divided between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi’s mentor, the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has held decision-making power on major policies since becoming supreme leader in 1989.
Raisi has long been considered a strong candidate to succeed Khamenei, who has supported Raisi’s key policies.
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Raisi’s win in the 2021 election, which was tightly controlled, brought all branches of power under hardliner control, following eight years of pragmatist Hassan Rouhani’s presidency and a nuclear deal negotiated with world powers, including the U.S.
However, Raisi’s reputation may have been damaged by widespread protests against clerical rule and his inability to improve Iran’s economy, which is hindered by Western sanctions.
On Sunday, Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who had bid Raisi a “friendly farewell” earlier that day, offered assistance in the rescue efforts.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash Near Azerbaijan Border