Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister perished in a helicopter crash amid treacherous mountainous terrain and icy weather, a senior Iranian official disclosed on Monday, following the discovery of the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
“The helicopter crash claimed the lives of President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all other passengers,” the official informed Reuters anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the incident.
Confirming the fatalities, Iran’s Mehr news agency stated, “All occupants of the helicopter, including the Iranian president and foreign minister, were martyred.”
According to earlier reports, the helicopter transporting Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was completely consumed by fire in the crash on Sunday. State TV broadcasted images indicating that the aircraft collided with a mountain peak, although the cause of the crash remained undisclosed.
Search and rescue teams battled blizzards and challenging terrain throughout the night before reaching the crash site in East Azerbaijan province early Monday morning.
“We have located the wreckage, and the situation appears dire,” stated Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, to state TV. “Unfortunately, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers.”
Raisi, 63, assumed the presidency in 2021 and has since implemented stringent morality laws, overseen a severe crackdown on anti-government protests, and actively engaged in nuclear negotiations with global powers.
Despite the tragedy, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assured the nation that state affairs would continue without disruption.
Several countries expressed concern and offered assistance for the rescue effort, including the United States, China, and the European Union. The crash occurred amid mounting dissent within Iran over political, social, and economic challenges, adding to the nation’s existing tensions and international pressures.
