Iran President Dies at age of 63 in Tragic Helicopter Crash

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, along with the country’s foreign minister and other officials, died in a helicopter crash, as reported by Iranian state media on Monday. Following the announcement, an emergency meeting was held by the Iranian government. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei subsequently appointed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the acting president and declared a five-day period of national mourning.

The tragic incident also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and several other government officials who were aboard the helicopter. The crash occurred in foggy conditions in a mountainous region in northern Iran while the officials were returning from an event near the Azerbaijan border. State media released images of the wreckage but did not provide an immediate cause for the crash.

The news of Raisi’s death elicited swift reactions from neighboring countries. Pakistan announced a day of mourning, and Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his condolences to Khamenei, according to Russian state media. The crash has left Iran without two of its key diplomatic figures at a time when regional tensions are heightened due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Rescue teams conducted an intensive search for the Iran President’s helicopter

Rescue teams conducted an extensive search for the helicopter, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s president, who confirmed that the aircraft carrying Iran President Raisi had been located.

On Sunday, Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi mentioned that the Iran president’s helicopter had experienced a “hard landing.” He noted that search-and-rescue operations were in progress, as reported by IRNA.

According to IRNA, two passengers from the flight had managed to contact rescue workers. The rescue mission involved twenty teams equipped with drones and dogs, and the Iranian military also dispatched troops to support the effort.

Fars News Agency shared video footage purportedly showing rescue teams dispatched to the crash site. Earlier, the Iranian government’s X account posted a photo of Iran President Raisi sitting next to Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, at a dam inauguration along their shared border.

When Was Ebrahim Raisi elected as Iran President and How was he as a leader?

Elected in 2021, Raisi was a former cleric and judge. Upon assuming office, he pledged that Iran would continue to adhere to its nuclear agreement with the U.S., despite former President Donald Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the pact.

Raisi was generally perceived as more of a hard-liner compared to his predecessor, Hassan Rouhani. Just last month, Raisi praised Iran’s retaliation against Israel following an airstrike in Damascus that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Although Iran blamed Israel for the attack, Israel did not claim responsibility, asserting that it and its allies intercepted 99% of the missiles and drones launched by Iran in response.

In Iran, the president heads the government, but the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, holds ultimate authority. The supreme leader defines national policies, oversees their implementation, and commands the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and police forces, as noted by the Council on Foreign Relations.

According to Iran’s constitution, if a president dies in office, the first vice president assumes the role with the supreme leader’s approval, and a new election must be held within 50 days, Reuters reported.

How Worlds Reacted to Iran President’s Helicopter Crash?

European Union:

President of the European Council, Charles Michel, extended the EU’s “sincere condolences” for the loss of Iran President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, and other Iranian officials in the helicopter crash.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, also conveyed his sympathies.

“The EU offers its condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian people impacted by this tragedy,” he stated.

India:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound sadness and shock over Iran President 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.

China:

President Xi Jinping described Raisi’s “tragic death” as “a significant loss for the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hamas:

The Palestinian group extended its “deepest condolences and solidarity” to Khamenei, the Iranian government, and the people of Iran for “this immense loss.”

The group commended Raisi and Amirabdollahian for their unwavering support for Palestine against Israel and expressed confidence that Iran’s “strong institutions” will navigate “the repercussions of this great loss.”

Who is Ebrahim Raisi the Iran President and When Was he born?

Ebrahim Raisi, born on December 14, 1960, in the Noghan district of Mashhad, Iran, was a prominent figure in Iranian politics and law. A cleric by training, he also held roles as a prosecutor and politician. Raisi notably served as Iran’s head of the judiciary from 2019 to 2021.

Ebrahim Raisi was a prominent Iranian politician, serving as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his untimely demise in 2024. Known for his hardline stance and close ties to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Raisi positioned himself as a candidate committed to combating corruption and tackling economic challenges throughout his presidency.

Tragically, Raisi met his end in a helicopter crash in Iran’s remote northwest, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others. In the wake of his passing, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has assumed the role of acting president, while Ali Bagheri Kani has stepped in as the acting foreign minister. Iran has announced plans for new elections within 50 days to select a new leader.

The international community has responded with condolences and support following the loss of Raisi, reflecting the impact of his presidency on both domestic and global affairs.