Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024. The helicopter, also carrying Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, went down in a remote mountainous area near Jolfa, in East Azerbaijan Province, due to poor weather conditions. All nine passengers aboard the helicopter, including Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, perished in the crash.
The incident occurred as Raisi and his delegation were returning from an official visit to inaugurate a dam project near the Azerbaijan border. The crash prompted a large-scale search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, there were no survivors.
Iranian state media confirmed the deaths and reported that the helicopter crash resulted from adverse weather leading to a hard landing. The Raisi administration immediately convened an emergency cabinet meeting to address the situation and the subsequent transition of power.
According to Iranian law, upon the death of a president, the first vice president assumes the office temporarily until a new president can be elected within fifty days. Mohammad Mokhber, the current first vice president, will thus assume the presidential duties during this interim period.
Raisi, who was elected in 2021, was known for his hardline conservative stance and significant influence within the Iranian judiciary and political elite. His tenure was marked by strict enforcement of morality laws and a tough stance in international nuclear negotiations.
This tragic event has left a significant void in Iranian leadership and prompted condolences and reactions from international leaders, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who expressed profound sorrow over the incident.
