Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash, Iranian state media confirmed. The crash, which occurred in the mountainous northwestern region of Jolfa, resulted in no survivors among the nine people on board, including Raisi, his Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other senior officials.
Rescue teams searched through challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions to locate the wreckage. An official reported to Reuters that President Raisi’s helicopter was “completely burned” in the crash. Footage released by the state-run IRNA early Monday depicted the crash site across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers at the scene remarked, “There it is, we found it,” confirming the discovery of the wreckage with no signs of life.
The helicopter was carrying Raisi and his entourage back from a visit to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when it crashed. The passengers included the Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, an imam, and members of the flight and security teams.
First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is next in line for the presidency, pending approval by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The crash site was identified after extensive search efforts, aided by one of Turkey’s ‘Akinci’ drones, which detected a heat source suspected to be the wreckage. The drone’s coordinates led Iranian rescue forces to a burning spot in the area known as ‘Tavil’.
The tragic accident has plunged Iran into mourning, with state TV confirming, “There is no sign of life from people on board.” Further details are expected as investigations into the crash continue.
