Iran’s President Raisi Death, Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. More than 40 teams were carrying out search operations ever since his helicopter crashed. The Iranian President’s helicopter crashed as soon as it left the border of Azerbaijan. After his death, Iran’s supreme leader Imam Ali Khamenei has announced 5 days of public mourning.
According to news agency Reuters, an Iranian official said that the helicopter was completely burnt in the crash. The weather was bad at the place where the helicopter crash took place. Because of this, rescue workers had to struggle a lot to reach the spot. President Raisi went to Azerbaijan on Sunday to inaugurate the Kiz Kalasi and Khodafarin Dam.
How many people died including the President and the Foreign Minister
There were 9 people in the helicopter with the President, including Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian. These people include Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmati, representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran in East Azerbaijan Ayatollah Mohammad Ali al-Hashem, head of Raisi’s guard team Sardar Seyed Mehdi Mousavi, helicopter pilot Colonel Seyed Taher Mustafavi, helicopter co-pilot Colonel Mohsin Daryanush and flight technician Major Behroze Ghadimi are also included. Iranian state news agency IRINN and semi-official news agency Mehr News reported that no survivors were found at the crash site of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. All 9 people died in the accident.
5 Declaration of official mourning for the day
After the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced 5 days of mourning. The Iranian Embassy in Delhi has also lowered its flag at half mast.
Accident or conspiracy – why questions are being raised
According to a report in ‘The Economist’, many Iranians say that Israel could be behind this accident. This conspiracy theory is also coming to the fore because Iran had attacked Israel some time ago amidst the ongoing Israeli attack in Gaza. Israel had then said that Iran would have to face serious consequences. In early April, Israel carried out an airstrike in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which Iranian Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Jihadi was killed. Jihadi was a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Now many Iranians are saying that Israel is also behind Raisi’s death. However, Israel has never targeted Iran’s heads of state. On Raisi’s case, he said that we have no role in this accident.
Appointment of the current Vice President as Acting President
After the death of President Ibrahim Raisi, the name of the acting President has been announced. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar as the acting President of the country. Mokhbar will remain President for 50 days. Elections will be conducted during this period. Apart from this, the new Foreign Minister will be Ali Bagheri Kani.
When will the new President be elected?
Like France, elections are held in Iran also every 4 years. The last election was held in 2021, so the next election was proposed in 2025, but after the death of Ibrahim Raisi, elections will be held soon, because the Vice President will have the right to hold power only for 50 days. Within these 50 days, a new President will have to be elected for Iran.
India’s response
PM Modi has expressed grief over the demise of President Ibrahim Raisi. The Prime Minister wrote on ‘X’ that he is deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Syed Ibrahim Raisi. He said that Raisi’s contribution in strengthening India-Iran bilateral relations will always be remembered. My condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this hour of grief.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote that he was deeply shocked to hear the news of the demise of Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash. I recall several meetings with them, including our last meeting in January 2024. . Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran in this hour of grief.
World reactions
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences, calling Raisi’s death a ‘big tragedy’. He said, Syed Ibrahim Raisi was an outstanding politician, whose entire life was dedicated to the service of the motherland. As a true friend of Russia, he made invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership.
China
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference that Raisi’s death was “a great loss for the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend”.
Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he was keenly following the developments related to the crash landing of the helicopter of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. Good news was expected. Sadly, this did not happen. The Government of Pakistan expresses its deep condolences and sympathy to Iran on this terrible loss. Great Iran will come out of this tragedy with traditional courage
Türkiye
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed sympathy over this incident. Erdogan said that he is constantly monitoring the incident. Turkey had also sent a team to help in the search and rescue operation of Raisi and his team.
Iraq
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid also expressed concern over this incident. He has discussed this incident with Iran’s Ambassador in Baghdad. He also spoke on telephone with Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar.
where did the accident happen, what a remote area it is
President Raisi had gone to Azerbaijan to inaugurate the Kiz Kalasi and Khodafarin Dam. After this inauguration he was going towards Tabriz city. Tabriz is the capital of East Azerbaijan province of Iran. During this time, the helicopter met with an accident at some place on the way. The area where the helicopter made a hard landing is near Varjakan city, 50 kilometers away from Tabriz city. There was a lot of fog at the place where the helicopter crashed. A reporter present with the rescue team said that the visibility in the hill and this dense forest was only up to five meters.
