Ebrahim Raisi Death News: An Iranian official on Monday morning confirmed to Reuters that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died after their helicopter crashed at a mountaintop due to heavy fog. Raisi's death was later confirmed in a statement on social media by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and on state television. The crash took place when President Raisi was returning to the Iranian city of Tabriz after he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam on their shared border.
This came after rescuers found no signs of life at the crash site after locating the helicopter, which was carrying a total of nine persons including Ebrahim Raisi. A total of 65 rescue teams, including from the Iranian armed forces, had been deployed to East Azerbaijan Province in Iran's northwest, where the helicopter had been located. "President Raisi's helicopter was completely burned in the crash, unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead," a rescue official said on Monday, as quoted by Reuters.
Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province in the early hours of Monday. "We can see the wreckage and the situation does not look good. 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, Pir Hossein Kolivand, said.
Who Is Mohammad Mokhber, Ebrahim Raisi's Succesor as Iran President?
68-year-old Mohammad Mokhber is presently the first vice president of Iran. He will become Iran's interim president after the death of Raisi and will be a part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organise a new presidential election within 50 days of the president's death.
Born on September 1, 1955, Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president. Mokhber was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia's military.
Mokhber had previously been head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader. In 2010, the European Union included Mokhber on a list of individuals and entities it was sanctioning for alleged involvement in "nuclear or ballistic missile activities". Two years later, it removed him from the list.
What Happens In Iran If A President Dies In Office?
- According to article 131 of the Islamic Republic's constitution, if a president dies in office the first vice president takes over, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.
- A council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary must arrange an election for a new president within a maximum period of 50 days. Raisi was elected president in 2021 and, under the current timetable, presidential elections are due to take place in 2025.