AMN / WEB DESK
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a group of officials accompanying them have died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran. Quoting Iranian Red Crescent Society President, IRNA News agency said, the wreckage of the helicopter was found and there was no sign of life at the crash site.
The helicopter made a hard landing yesterday afternoon after it got into difficulties in heavy fog in the north of the country. President Raisi was travelling back to Iran following a visit to Azerbaijan when his helicopter came down. He had been in office since 2021.
The Iranian cabinet has convened for a second emergency meeting in less than 24 hours following the confirmation of the death of the President and the Foreign Minister in the helicopter crash.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has been killed in a helicopter crash, state media confirm
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also killed in Sunday’s crash, along with six others
The helicopter – one of three travelling in a convoy – crashed in heavy fog in the north of the country
Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north-west of Iran, after returning from a dam opening ceremony on the Azerbaijan border
Iranian authorities say one victim, an imam, survived for an hour and tried to raise help
President Raisi was a hardline cleric close to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber already chaired a meeting last evening after the helicopter went missing with nine people on board. According to protocol, with President Raisi’s death, Mr. Mokhber should assume power, pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. New elections will then have to be held within 50 days.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Iranian cabinet said that the popular president of Iran, Ayatollah Raisi, has been martyred on the birth anniversary of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.
The indefatigable and hard-working president made the ultimate sacrifice on the path of serving his nation, it added.
The statement went on to note that the figure always took steps to help the country advance.
The cabinet ministers offered condolences over the martyrdom of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s guard team, and other officials accompanying them.
“We assure our loyal and appreciative and beloved nation that the path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi, the hero and the servant of the nation and the faithful friend of the leadership, and with the help of God Almighty and cooperation of the honorable people, there will be no shortcoming in the Jihadi management of the country,” the statement added.