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Iranian President Killed In Helicopter Crash, State Media Says

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Harold Hutchison Reporter
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Iran’s president was confirmed dead Monday after his helicopter crashed on a mountainside in the northern part of the country, according to state media.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, had been traveling from Azerbaijan to celebrate the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The Iranian cabinet held an “emergency meeting” on Monday following the announcement of Raisi’s death, state news agency IRNA reported.

While the exact cause of the crash is still unknown, Iranian media reported heavy fog and inclement weather around the time of the crash.

First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is next in line to take power following approval from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Search teams finally reached the site of the crash early Monday after a roughly 15 hour search, according to Iranian state media. There were no signs of life at the crash site, the Associated Press reported, citing Iranian state media. CNN reported Iranian media as stating that there were “no survivors” found. (RELATED: ‘Dangerous Disaster’: Former Green Beret Blasts Biden Over Foreign Policy As Iran Launches Attack On Israel)

“President Raisi’s helicopter was completely burned in the crash … unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead,” an official told Reuters.

 

Rescuers attempting to reach the helicopter had been hampered by poor weather conditions, the Associated Press reported, citing Iranian media. There was heavy fog around the time of the incident.

“The helicopters of the 6th combat base of Tabriz Air Force arrived in the Varzeqan area according to the order to carry out relief operations,” the Commander of Iran’s 6th Air Force Base had said Sunday, according to CNN. “These helicopters, along with the rescue team, were sent to the helicopter accident area of the president’s convoy from the early hours. Unfortunately, the operation failed due to unfavorable weather conditions.”

“Some of the president’s companions on this helicopter were able to communicate with Central Headquarters, raising hopes that the incident could have ended without casualties,” Iran’s Tasnim News agency said in a post on X.

“We hope Almighty God will return the respected, esteemed President and his entourage to the arms of the nation,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khameini had said in a post on X.

Raisi was elected as president of Iran in 2021 after heading the country’s judiciary, where he was alleged to have masterminded mass executions in 1988, targeting opponents of the theocratic regime. The Biden administration lifted sanctions against Raisi in 2022 as part of a nuclear agreement.

Raisi was seen as a conservative cleric and was speculated as a potential successor to the elderly Khameini.

This is a developing news story and will be updated.

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