By Debra Rono
President Ebrahim Raisi, aged 63, of Iran, has passed away after the helicopter he was travelling in, along with his entourage, crashed in a foggy and mountainous area in the northwest of the country, according to the state news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
President Raisi, who served as the 8th president of Iran since 2021, was on his way to Tabriz City after attending the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi and Khudafarin hydroelectric complexes at the border with Azerbaijan.
Initial reports indicate that the helicopter carrying Raisi and his delegation encountered a “hard landing” in a remote location, while the other two helicopters returned safely.
Despite challenging weather conditions, search and rescue teams were able to locate the wreckage of the crashed helicopter terrain in the Varzaqan region of East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.
Tragically, all nine individuals on board the aircraft lost their lives in the accident.
Among the passengers were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, Head of President’s Guard Team Mehdi Mousavi, and Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, the Supreme Leader’s representative in the province.
Following the confirmation of the fatalities, an emergency meeting of the Iranian cabinet was convened led by First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber.
As per the Iranian Constitution, in the event of such circumstances, the first vice-president assumes power with the approval of the Supreme Leader. A council, comprising the parliament speaker, the judiciary chief, and First Vice-President Mokhber, will be responsible for organizing a new presidential election within a span of 50 days.
Azerbaijan President Aliyev extended his sympathies to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei following the tragic passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other individuals in a helicopter accident.
“On this sorrowful day, I pray to Almighty Allah to grant patience and fortitude to the friendly and brotherly people of Iran. We share in your grief and extend our deepest condolences to you, the families and loved ones of those who perished, and to your entire nation, on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan,” read the letter in part.
The leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has since declared five days of public mourning following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
In July 2023, the late Iranian President made a historic state visit to Kenya, which signified the initial visit by an Iranian leader to Africa in more than ten years. President Raisi held discussions with Kenyan President William Ruto at the state house in Nairobi.
The two leaders signed several Memorandums of Understanding and agreements in agriculture, livestock, culture and heritage, information, ICT, fisheries, housing, urban, and metropolitan development.