- Iran has confirmed the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian after their helicopter crashed near the Azerbaijan border.
- Poor visibility delayed rescue efforts, and the wreckage was found by a Turkish drone.
The search for Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s helicopter was concluded today with Iran all but confirming the deaths of all on board.
The top-level delegates were travelling back from an inauguration ceremony for Qiz Qalasi Dam, a joint project to be built by Iran and Azerbaijan – who despite holding diplomatic ties with Israel – saw this as an opportunity to improve relations with Iran.
The dam would become the new symbol of friendship and brotherhood between both neighbouring countries. Upon completion it would assist in the safe transit of goods, passengers and tourists.
Prior to the incident there were several video uploads of President Raisi including one from inside the helicopter showing President Raisi and his Foreign Minister as well as the other helicopters flying alongside them.
Azerbaijan, where only helicopter tail is discernible.
A total of three helicopters were used for the return journey before the visibility turned poor. Two of the three helicopters made it back to their destination and landed safely.
The one remaining helicopter – carrying 9 people including: President Ebrahim Raisi; Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian; Representative of the Iranian supreme leader in East Azerbaijan
Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem; Head of presidential guard Mehdi Mousavi; and helicopter crew – had to make a “hard landing” along the border of Azerbaijan and Iran according to state media.
Rescue teams were unable to properly begin their search owing to delays caused by poor visibility from the unexpected bad weather.
Russia, Turkey and Iraq offered their support in assisting with search and rescue operations upon hearing the news from Iran.
After several hours of searching in difficult conditions for the helicopter, a Turkish drone located a large heat source. Once the source was determined it was quickly confirmed to be the wreckage of the helicopter, which was said to be completely ‘burned’ with ‘nothing left but the tail’.
East Azerbaijan.
It is not yet been fully confirmed what caused the helicopter to – what state media has now confirmed as a ‘crash.’
With the death of President Raisi being confirmed by state media, Iran also confirmed that elections to appoint his successor will take place withing 50 days. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will now be interim President until a successor is confirmed.
Iran has as many as 8 known Vice-Presidents, including the only recorded female in a top-level position – Ensiyeh Khazali as Vice President for Women and Family Affairs. Any of whom can put their name forward for the impending election, however none of whom are clerics like Raisi was.
Across Iran, prayers are taking place en masse by the public for President Raisi and those who have perished. Raisi himself was to be considered as the natural successor to the current Supreme Leader of Iran – Ali Khamenei.
Despite the prayers and endorsement of the Supreme Leader, Raisi was not a popular figure and did not motivate people to want to come out and vote. This lack of motivation lead to lowest recorded turnout for a parliamentary election back in March.
President Raisi’s had many political opponents, with as many as nineteen active parties who are classed as Iranian Principlists (or right wing) and twenty one as Iranian Reformists – where Islamic liberalism can be found and the most devout loathers of Raisi’s Presidency – many of whom carry liberal secularist views; or are being triggered by the sanctions imposed upon them by the West which is affecting people’s day to day living through inflation and financial hardships.
Before his death, Iran was the victim of an attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria with President Raisi firmly pointing at Israel as being the aggressor.
Iran then retaliated with its’ own airstrike directly at Israel, which they tried to defend with the support of UK, US and Jordan, though the latter is unconfirmed. Reports are unclear on the level of damage caused, though some sources and media outlets suggest an Israeli air base was hit.
