The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, lost his life along with several high-ranking government officials who were traveling in the helicopter that suffered an air accident in a mountainous area in northwest Iran this Sunday.
Among the deceased are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and the region's main imam.
The news was confirmed by the Iranian state television, which reported at 7:30 in the morning, local time, that there were no signs of life at the accident site after an intense day of searching in the midst of difficult weather conditions, with heavy fog in a wooded and hard-to-reach area.
The Iranian news agency Mehr also confirmed the death of all passengers on board the crashed helicopter, a U.S.-made Bell 212 model. According to information gathered by El Mundo, the first images of the accident showed the aircraft crashed against the peak of a mountain, around 670 kilometers from Tehran.
So far, the authorities of the Cuban regime - a close ally of the ayatollahs' regime - have not commented on the death of the Iranian leader, after expressing in public statements their wishes and hopes that the crash victims would be located alive.
Accident Details and Rescue Operation
President Raisi was traveling in a convoy of three helicopters, of which only his had issues. The other two aircraft landed without any problems, as reported by Al Jazeera. So far, no official details have been provided regarding the causes of the accident.
The search and rescue operation was complex and lasted more than 12 hours. Adverse weather conditions, with dense fog, rain, and snow, hindered the rescue efforts. Rescue teams from several countries in the region, including Turkey, Russia, Qatar, and Iraq, sent helicopters and drones with night vision to assist in the search. The aircraft was located about 70 kilometers from the last recorded GPS signal.
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to the city of Tabriz, the capital of the province where the accident occurred. The Iranian Red Crescent led the recovery operation, reporting that the conditions at the scene of the incident were extremely difficult. It was reported that two rescue teams lost contact with authorities during the search operations due to the adverse conditions.
International Reactions
The news of the death of President Raisi and his entourage has sparked a wave of condolences at the international level. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, expressed his "sincere condolences" through his official account on X, highlighting the European Union's deep sorrow for the loss. "Our thoughts are with the families," he added.
Leaders from the region also expressed their shock and sorrow. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, expressed his "deep shock" over the tragedy and recalled his recent meeting with Raisi. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also offered their condolences, highlighting the loss of a "brother and friend".
The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, thanked Raisi for his work in strengthening the ties between Syria and Iran. "We worked with the late president to ensure that the strategic relations between Syria and Iran always remained prosperous," he said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Raisi as a "true friend of Russia" and highlighted his "invaluable contribution" to the development of bilateral relations. Leaders from Venezuela, India, and China also joined in offering condolences, with Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasizing that "the Chinese people have lost a good friend."
National and Political Impact
In Iran, the government has declared a period of national mourning and Vice President Mohammad Mojber has assumed the position of interim president. According to the Iranian Constitution, new elections must be called within a period of 50 days.
Raisi, 63 years old, was considered a hardline politician with the backing of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Jamenei. During his term, harsh crackdowns were carried out against internal protests and the nuclear agreement with the United States was not successfully resumed.
Raisi's death comes at a time of high regional tension due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Tehran has been accused by Tel Aviv of supporting the Palestinian group and other militias in the region. The situation has escalated in recent weeks, with direct attacks between Iran and Israel.
The Iranian government cabinet has promised to continue the work started by Raisi. "We assure our loyal, grateful, and beloved nation that the path of service will continue with the spirit of the tireless Raisi, the hero and servant of the nation," it stated in a press release. The political future of Iran now lies in the hands of the electoral process and the decisions made by the Supreme Leader Ali Jamenei in the coming days.
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