Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media reported on Monday.
The crash also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and all other passengers on board.
The helicopter went down on Sunday in mountainous terrain, and its charred wreckage was discovered early Monday after an overnight search conducted in severe blizzard conditions. “President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash,” a senior Iranian official reported, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and state television later confirmed Raisi’s death. State TV showed images of the helicopter wreckage on a mountain peak, though the exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Rescue teams battled through challenging conditions, including blizzards and difficult terrain, to locate the wreckage.
“With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers,” Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, told state TV. Earlier, national broadcaster IRIB interrupted regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
Footage from the rescue effort depicted teams equipped with GPS devices and head torches searching the dark mountainside in harsh weather.
International reactions included expressions of concern and offers of assistance. The White House confirmed that U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed on the crash. China expressed deep concern, while the European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology to aid in the investigation.
Raisi, known for his hardline stance and seen as a key figure in Iran’s political future, leaves behind a complex legacy as the nation grapples with this sudden loss.