In a foggy, mountainous region of Iran’s northwest, a calamitous helicopter crash has led to the death of the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and several other senior officials, state media reported.
The incident leaves a nation already enmeshed in regional conflicts and internal strife facing a sudden and deep leadership vacuum.
The crash, which took place amidst unsettled conditions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, claimed the lives of eight individuals.
Including three crew members of the Bell helicopter, an aircraft Iran had acquired in the early 2000s.
The accident transpired near Varzaqan in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, just as the officials were returning from an inauguration of a dam project at the Iran-Azerbaijan border.
The loss of these officials, especially President Raisi, who was viewed as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has intensified the sensitivity of the current political landscape.
During his term, Raisi had taken bold steps by enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels and providing military support to Russia and regional militia groups.
Which included a notable drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid the recent Gaza conflict.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pointedly remarked, “One of the main culprits of yesterday’s tragedy is the United States, which … embargoed the sale of aircraft and aviation parts to Iran and does not allow the people of Iran to enjoy good aviation facilities.
These will be recorded in the list of US crimes against the Iranian people.”
As Iran grapples with the repercussions of this tragedy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced a five-day public mourning period and confirmed that Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would act as the nation’s interim president until elections are held within the next 50 days.
Khamenei’s public statement and gestures of condolence from regional leaders underscore the magnitude of the loss.
Moreover, the newly appointed acting Foreign Minister, nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani, steps into a role of significant international consequence.
The cabin’s passengers included the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, and a Revolutionary Guard official.
Further mourning was evident as countries like Pakistan declared a day of mourning, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity by stating that his country “stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”
Relevant articles:
– Iran’s President, Foreign Minister and Others Found Dead at Helicopter Crash Site, Military, 05/20/2024
– Who died alongside Iran’s President Raisi in the helicopter crash?, Al Jazeera English, 05/20/2024
– State media say Iranian president, foreign minister found dead at helicopter crash site, Voice of America – VOA News, 05/20/2024