Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash at 63, according to Iranian news sources.
Rescuers found the helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and seven other senior officials in the mountainous northwest of Iran on Monday after it crashed.
The crash occurred weeks after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel in retaliation for a deadly strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus.
Raisi, a hardliner, became president in an uncompetitive 2021 election. Previously the chief justice, he was known for intensifying the crackdown on dissent during a period of youth-led protests against clerical rule.
Raisi was the second most powerful figure in Iran’s political hierarchy after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the Iranian Constitution, the first vice president assumes the presidency upon the president’s death, with the Supreme Leader’s approval.
Iran faced uncertainty as search teams scoured a foggy mountainous area after Raisi’s helicopter went missing in what state media called an “accident.”
Concerns grew for the 63-year-old ultraconservative after the helicopter carrying him and other officials lost contact in East Azerbaijan province.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reassured Iranians about the country’s leadership, saying there would be no disruption in governance and expressed hope for Raisi’s safe return.
International concern and offers of assistance came from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union, which activated its rapid response mapping service.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani thanked international governments and organizations for their sympathy and aid offers.
State television initially reported the helicopter accident in the Jolfa region.
Difficult weather conditions and heavy fog hindered rescue efforts, and the search continued into the night.
Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand reported that the accident location was still unidentified, and the situation remained challenging.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter made a hard landing in bad weather, complicating communication with the aircraft.
He advised the public to rely on state television for information, warning against foreign media considered hostile to Iran.
Iran’s cabinet held an emergency meeting led by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber following the incident.
Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters, with the other two safely reaching their destination, reported Tasnim news agency.
Over 60 rescue teams with search dogs and drones were deployed to the Dizmar protected forest area near Varzaghan, IRNA news agency reported.
