Preliminary Report: No Evidence of Foul Play in Helicopter Crash Killing Raisi
A preliminary report from Iran’s military stated that no evidence of foul play or attack has been discovered during the investigation into the helicopter crash that resulted in fatalities, as reported by state media on Friday.
Raisi, a hardline figure and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died when his helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border on Sunday.
The report from the armed forces general staff noted, “No signs of gunfire or similar incidents were observed in the wreckage of the helicopter, which crashed at a high altitude and caught fire.”
The report also mentioned, “Nothing suspicious has been found in the control tower’s communications with the flight crew.”
As the investigation continues, more details will be released, the report added.
Raisi was laid to rest in the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Mashhad on Thursday, four days after the crash that also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others.
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Experts highlight that Iran has a poor air safety record, with numerous crashes, many involving U.S.-made aircraft acquired before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Tehran asserts that U.S. sanctions have long prevented it from purchasing new aircraft or spare parts from the West, hindering the modernization of its aging fleets.
Iran’s top prosecutor warned against spreading rumors on social media amidst speculation that the helicopter may have been shot down, according to state media.
Security forces have detained a man accused of spreading a “false” report that went viral on social media, garnering 40 million views, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. The post questioned the authenticity of state media photos of the helicopter.
Iran declared five days of mourning for Raisi, who implemented Khamenei’s policies, suppressed public dissent, and took a hard stance on foreign policy issues, including negotiations with Washington to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement.
A presidential election has been scheduled for June 28.
Preliminary Report: No Evidence of Foul Play in Helicopter Crash Killing Raisi