Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei swiftly appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to temporarily assume duties following the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi.
The announcement was made amidst five days of mourning after Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials perished in a helicopter crash.
The tragic incident occurred when the helicopter carrying them crashed, leaving the Islamic Republic without two prominent leaders. Reports confirmed the demise of Raisi and the foreign minister after their helicopter went down early Monday.
Raisi, aged 63, was considered a potential successor to the supreme leader. Initially, it was indicated that the helicopter made a rough landing in foggy weather conditions near the Azerbaijan border, where Raisi had been meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. Local media stated that Raisi was in Azerbaijan to inaugurate the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams.
The Iranian Red Crescent announced the recovery of the bodies of the deceased and concluded search operations on Monday. Raisi’s funeral is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Tabriz, as reported by the Iranian news outlet Tasnim.
The crash claimed the lives of all eight individuals aboard the Bell 212 helicopter purchased by Iran in the early 2000s. Aircraft in Iran, including Bell helicopters, face challenges due to parts scarcity caused by Western sanctions, often leading to flights without proper safety checks.
The cause of the crash in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province has not been immediately disclosed by state TV. Footage released by IRNA displayed the crash site located across a steep valley in a lush mountain range.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that they are monitoring the situation but have no insights into the cause, suggesting no significant regional security impacts currently. Various world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, China’s Xi Jinping, and Syrian President Bashar Assad, extended their condolences.
Nigerian politician Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, praising Raisi’s dedication to Iran’s progress. He conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families and assured Nigeria’s support and prayers to the Iranian nation during this mournful period.
