Iranian president dies in plane crash
20 May 2024 10:13
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash on the border with Azerbaijan. The crash occurred on 19 May. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to AP, Tasnim
The crash occurred when the president and his entourage were returning from the Khoda-Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan after the inauguration of a dam on the common border with Azerbaijan.
Iranian state television did not name the immediate causes of the crash.
The helicopter’s search operation lasted more than 12 hours. Later, Turkey sent a drone to search for Raisi, which found the wreckage of the helicopter.
The wreckage was found by rescuers in the early hours of Monday.
The Iranian president’s helicopter completely burned down in the crash, an official told Reuters.
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that some of the bodies were burnt and unidentifiable.
There were three helicopters in the president’s convoy. Two helicopters carrying several ministers and officials landed safely in foggy weather.
The death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was officially confirmed by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. According to him, at least eight people died in the plane crash along with the former head of state.
Along with the Iranian president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who accompanied Raisi on the trip, also died in the plane crash.
In addition to them, the helicopter was carrying the Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in East Azarbaijan Province, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem, and several other unnamed individuals. All of them were killed.
The government board has already convened an urgent meeting.
According to the Iranian Constitution, in the event of the death of the president, the first vice-president, currently Mohammad Mohber, assumes his powers with the approval of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In addition, the council, consisting of the speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the head of the judiciary and the first deputy president, is obliged to organise the election of a new president within a maximum period of fifty days.
