Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks throughout a gathering with the cupboard in Tehran, Iran, October 8, 2023.
Wana Information Company | Reuters
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Overseas Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash, state media reported Monday.
“All of the passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and overseas minister had been martyred,” semi-official information company Mehr Information had reported earlier.
Raisi was returning after inaugurating a dam on Iran’s frequent border with the Azerbaijan Republic, when his helicopter crashed upon touchdown in northern Iran’s Varzaqan area on Sunday night native time, in line with state information company IRNA.
Moreover the president and the overseas minister, 9 folks died within the crash, together with Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati, semi-official Tasnim Information Company reported.
The president’s convoy included three helicopters, two of which landed safely, in line with Tasnim.
Communication with Raisi’s chopper was lower off about half an hour into the flight, Iran’s Vice President for Govt Affairs Mohsen Mansouri mentioned. Raisi was travelling to Tabriz metropolis to launch an oil venture.
Inclement climate circumstances and troublesome terrain had hampered search and rescue operations, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps’ chief Pirhossein Koulivand, reportedly mentioned.
Drone footage revealed on state media FARS Information Company confirmed the chopper’s wreckage on a steep hillside.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on social media platform X, saying Raisi’s “contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will all the time be remembered.”
Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro referred to as Raisi an “extraordinary chief.”
Former Iranian overseas minister Javad Zarif additionally condoled the loss of life of the president and others within the crash.
“The results of this are in all probability going to be somewhat contained,” Ali Ahmadi, govt fellow on the Geneva Middle for Safety Coverage, informed CNBC’s “Avenue Indicators Asia.”
President Raisi was a reasonably marginal determine in nationwide safety determination, mentioned Ahmadi, including that Iranian overseas coverage is principally ruled by the Workplace of the Supreme Chief and the Iranian navy.
Raisi, 63, a hardline, conservative politician was elected president in 2021 after failing to get into the workplace in 2017. He was seen as a contender to succeed supreme chief Ayatollah Khamenei.
As president, he cracked down on dissent at residence.
