TEHRAN- Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media reported on Monday.
The helicopter, which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, was found early Monday amidst challenging blizzard conditions after an overnight search revealed the charred wreckage in the mountainous terrain.
Iran President Died in Helicopter Crash
“President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all passengers aboard the helicopter perished in the crash,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Vice President Mohsen Mansouri later confirmed Raisi’s death on social media, and it was also announced on state television.
State TV reported images from the crash site showing the aircraft had collided with a mountain peak, though the cause of the crash remains unknown.
State news agency IRNA reported that Raisi was aboard a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter. Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021 and has since tightened morality laws, overseen a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, and taken a firm stance in nuclear negotiations with world powers.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate authority over foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, sought to reassure Iranians that state affairs would continue without disruption.
No Signs of Life
Rescue teams battled blizzards and challenging terrain throughout the night, reaching the wreckage in the early hours of Monday.
“No signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers,” said Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, on state TV.
Earlier, the national broadcaster interrupted regular programming to air prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
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