Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, long seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.
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The Helicopter Crash
The helicopter, which was carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other officials, with no significant cause revealed yet, crashed in the Dizmar forest near the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on Sunday. The crashed and burned helicopter was found early on Monday after continuous search by rescue teams.
The crash site was a difficult terrain with heavy fog, which posed significant challenges to the rescue team.
State TV reported that the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak from images of the site, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.
Rescue teams at work
Despite the adverse conditions, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched immediately after the crash. At least 40 units, of rescue officers including drones and search dogs, were deployed to first locate the wreckage and any possible survivors. However, hours after exhaustive efforts, Iranian state media reported no signs of life at the crash site.
Prayers and Sorrows
The news of the crash has led to an outpouring of grief and condolences from both the Iranian public and international leaders.
Earlier, the national broadcaster of Iran had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country. Group prayers took place in Tehran. President Raisi’s official Instagram account called for national prayers.
Several country leaders have expressed concern over the incident and offered assistance highlighting the global impact of the incident.
Raisi’s Iran
Iran’s 2021 presidential election saw the lowest voter turnout in the country’s history, yet Raisi prevailed. The U.S. has sanctioned Raisi in part because he was involved in the 1988 end of the bloody Iran-Iraq war, which resulted in the mass execution of thousands of political detainees.
Under Raisi, Iran now hampers foreign inspection and enriches uranium almost to weapons-grade levels. Iran has armed Russia in the conflict with Ukraine and attacked Israel with a large-scale drone and missile assault amid its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, it has continued arming proxy groups in the Middle East, like as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
On the other hand, mass protests have been continuing for years in the nation. The most recent one involved, Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022. She had been jailed earlier for reportedly refusing to wear a headscarf, or hijab, to the liking of authorities. Following the protests, there was a months-long security crackdown that resulted in over 500 deaths and over 22,000 arrests.
In march, a United Nations investigation panel found out that Iran was responsible for the “physical violence” that resulted in Mahsa Amini’s death.
Raisi is the second president to die during his presidential course. In 1981, a bomb blast killed President Mohammad Ali Rajai, then president of Iran, during the chaotic days after revolution.
Who will be the next president?
With the passing of President Raisi, questions regarding the succession of the presidency have arisen. According to Iranian Constitution, the first vice president takes over in case of the president’s death.
Since Raisi’s passing, Mojtaba Khameini, the supreme leader’s 55-year-old son, has been the only other candidate suggested. New presidential election shall be called within next 50 days.
However, some have raised concerns over the position being taken by a family member, after the Islamic Revolution overthrew the hereditary Pahlavi monarchy of the shah.
