Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi has been declared dead after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in Iran’s mountainous northwestern region near the Azerbaijan border due to poor weather.
Rescuers found the crash site early on Monday, May 20, 2024, after an overnight search in difficult weather.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, also died in the crash.
The other officials who lost their lives in the crash are Malik Rahmati; Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem; representative of the Iranian supreme leader to East Azerbaijan, Sardar Seyed Mehdi Mousavi; head of Raisi’s guard team, Colonel Seyed Taher Mostafavi; pilot, Colonel Mohsen Daryanush; co-pilot and Major Behrouz Ghadimi; flight technician.
The dead bodies were being transferred to the city of Tabriz where the President’s helicopter was heading towards before crashing.
Once the bodies arrive in Tabriz, there will be an autopsy.
The country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of public mourning and offered condolences to the people of Iran.
Syria and Lebanon also declared three days of mourning.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif declared that his country will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect for Raisi and his companions.
In a post on X, Sharif called Raisi and Amirabdollahian “good friends of Pakistan” and extended his “deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss”
“The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” he added.
Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also expressed solidarity with the Iranian people following Raisi’s death.
“With profound sadness and deep sorrow, we received the tragic news of the passing of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and their companions, due to the unfortunate plane crash incident in northern Iran.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and to the nation of Iran, its government and people. We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the officials of the Islamic Republic during this painful tragedy.”
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said that he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Raisi’s death.
“His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” Modi wrote on X.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim was also “deeply saddened” by the news.
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov expressed condolences over the death of two top officials he called “reliable friends” of Russia.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan expressed condolences and said that Ankara had been in contact with Iran since hearing about the crash.
Other countries also shared their reaction to the news.
Mokhber Declared Acting President
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed First Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber as the country’s acting President.
“In accordance with Article 131 of the constitution, Mokhber is in charge of leading the executive branch,” Khamenei said in a statement.
He added that Mokhber will be required to work with the heads of legislative and judicial branches to prepare for presidential elections “within a maximum period of 50 days.”
Additionally, the cabinet of Iran appointed Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani as acting Foreign Minister following the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Kani has served as Deputy Foreign Minister since September 2021.
Kani was Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council between 2007 and 2013.
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