Iran President Helicopter Crash Highlights: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian have been declared dead following a helicopter crash on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing Iranian officials. Search teams found the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province. Vice president Mansouri confirmed the news on his social media platofrm X.
Who will be Iran’s Interim President?
According to Article 131 of the Iran’s constitution, if a president dies in office, the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is supposed to take over with the confirmation of the supreme leader, a Reuters report said.
The Iranian state media on Monday morning stated that there were no surviors in the crash as the choppers was found completely burnt. There were reports that Raisi’s chopper had a “hard landing” on Sunday. The incident raised concerns and prompted requests for public prayers as rescue crews hurried through a misty rural forest to find the aircraft. The incident occurred in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran; it was first reported close to Jolfa, an Azerbaijani border city, around 600 km northwest of Tehran.
Here’s the highlights on Iran’s helicopter crash:
Here’s highlights on Iran’s helicopter crash:
The South Korean foreign ministry stated that the government has sent its deepest condolences for President Ebrahim Raisi’s death, as Reuters reported.
Ali Bagheri Kani has been declared as acting Foreign Minister by Iran’s government cabinet as IRNA reported.
According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Iran’s supreme leader Aki Khamenei has declared First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as in charge of the executive branch. He has been allotted a maximum of 50 days for reconducting the elections following the demise of President Ebrahim Raisi. A five-day mourning has also been announced.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and remembered him as an outstanding leader who dedicated his entire life working for his country. (Reuters)
The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered his condolences over Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s death.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences on Monday for the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Erdogan described Raisi as a “valuable colleague and brother.”
“As a colleague who personally witnessed his efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in power, I remember Mr. Raisi with respect and gratitude,” Erdogan said on social media platform X. He added that Turkey stood by Iran in this difficult time.
Following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iran’s three branches of government held an extraordinary meeting on Monday. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber represented the executive branch, according to Mizan, the news agency of Iran’s Judiciary.
Israeli officials have told Reuters that they are not involved in the death of Iran’s President.
Post the demise of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, oil prices extended gains on Monday amid political uncertainty in major producing countries. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince cancelled a trip to Japan, citing issues with the king’s health.
Former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, expressed shock over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on Monday. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir in a helicopter crash. My heartfelt condolences go out to their families and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Abdullah wrote on X.
Raisi and his entourage, including Iran’s foreign minister, were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after hours of search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest. “My deepest condolences to the people of Iran who mourn the tragic passing away of their President Ebrahim Raisi. Shocking & quite baffling,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al-Thani took to twitter and said, “Sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, and the accompanying officials in the painful helicopter accident, asking God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness for them and their families with patience and solace. We belong to Allah and Him we shall return.”
Several countries in the Middle East have expressed their sorrow and support to Iran and offered help to locate the helicopter, which was earlier missing for many hours post the crash.
The statement from Hamas expressed its heartfelt sympathy and support to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Iranian government, and the Iranian people for their loss. It commended the deceased Iranian leaders for their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and resistance against Israel. The statement also expressed confidence in Iran’s strong institutions to overcome the challenges posed by this loss.
The helicopter carrying Raisi on board crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amid poor weather conditions on Sunday.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi.
Iraqi PM said Iraq expresses support for the Iranian people and leaders in this tragic incident, reported Reuters.
“Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at the time of this tragedy,” EAM S Jaishankar said in n X post.
Rescue teams had to face blizzards and difficult terrain conditions throughout Sunday night to reach the helicopter wreckage in early hours of Monday. “With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers,” the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, had told state TV.
PM Modi condoled the death of Iranian president and said, “Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”
🔴President Raeisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Gov. Malek Rahmati, East Azarbaijan Imam of Friday Prayer Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, & several other passengers, has been martyred in a helicopter crash in northwest of Iran. pic.twitter.com/Ehinb7uCAn
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 20, 2024
If a president dies in office, Article 131 of the constitution states that the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, takes over with the confirmation of the supreme leader. A council made up of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament, and the head of the judiciary must organize an election for a new president within 50 days, a Reuters report said. Raisi was elected president in 2021, with the next presidential election originally scheduled for 2025. Now, it is expected to be held by early July.
A Reuters report suggests that Mohammad Mokhber will likely take over as Iran’s interim president. As interim president, Mokhber is likely going to be part of a council, which also has the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary. The council will together hold new presidential elections within 50 days of the Iranian president’s death.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian have been confirmed dead in the fateful helicopter crash that occurred on Sunday.
The Iranian president, foreign minister, and other passengers on the chopper, including Governor Malek Rahmati of East Azerbaijan Province, have reportedly been “martyred,” according to the semi-official news agency. Although Raisi’s death has not yet been formally confirmed, medical personnel have reported that they discovered “no signs” of life at the crash site.
The most recent fatal crash of a Bell 212 was in September 2023, when a privately operated aircraft crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to the Flight Safety Foundation, a non-profit focusing on aviation safety. The most recent Iranian crash of the type was in 2018, killing four people, according to the organisation’s database.
(Reuters)
Non-military organisations that fly the Bell 212 include Japan’s Coast Guard; law enforcement agencies and fire departments in the United States; Thailand’s national police; and many others. It is not clear how many Iran’s government operates, but its air force and navy have a total of 10, according to FlightGlobal’s 2024 World Air Forces directory.
(Reuters)
Iranian State Media say images show President Raisi’s helicopter crashed into a mountain peak.
Head of Iran’s Red Crescent Kolivand tells State TV that there are no signs of life detected at President Raisi’s helicopter crash site.
(Reuters)
Iran state media has stated that there were no survivors in the crash. The chopper was found completely burnt. President Ebrahim Raisi was dead in the chopper crash.
Chinese Foreign Ministry showed his concern for the crash and said that The Iranian president and the other passengers on the chopper should be “safe and sound”. “We are closely following the situation and will provide all necessary support and assistance for Iran’s rescue efforts,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.