Tehran, Iran – Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has died after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in a mountainous and forested area of the country amid poor weather conditions. The 63-year-old leader, who represented the conservative and hardline factions in Iranian politics, had served as president for nearly three years and was anticipated to seek re-election next year.
A former chief justice, Raisi was considered a potential successor to the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His sudden death leaves a significant void in the political landscape of Iran.
The crash also claimed the life of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Raisi’s successor in the foreign ministry. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif expressed his condolences on social media, referring to the deaths as “martyrdom.” Zarif described Amirabdollahian as “my dear brother” and shared that the news of the accident was “painful.”
In a heartfelt message posted on Instagram, Zarif wrote, “I wish God’s pleasure for the martyrs, peace and patience for the survivors, and solidarity and progress for the Iranian people.”
The tragic incident has shocked the nation and prompted an outpouring of grief and condolences from political figures and citizens alike. The Iranian government is expected to announce a period of national mourning and initiate an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
