Iranian President Raisi and his foreign minister died in a helicopter crash. The incident happened in mountainous terrain and icy weather. An Iranian official reported the tragic news on Monday. Search teams found the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
“President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all passengers in the helicopter were killed,” said a senior Iranian official. The official spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter. Iran’s Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, stating, “All passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred.”
Mehr further reported, “The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while serving and performing his duty for the people of Iran and was martyred.” Other media outlets echoed this news.
Earlier, an Iranian official told Reuters the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was completely burned in the crash. State TV showed images of the aircraft crashing into a mountain peak, but no official cause has been given yet.
Rescue teams faced blizzards and tough terrain overnight to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province early Monday. “We can see the wreckage, and the situation does not look good,” said Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, on state TV. “With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers.”
Raisi, 63, became president in 2021. He enforced stricter morality laws, oversaw a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reassured Iranians, saying state affairs would not be disrupted. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, saying he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of Raisi. Modi remembered Raisi’s contributions to India-Iran relations.
A Turkish drone identified heat at the suspected crash site and shared coordinates with Iranian authorities. Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter, according to state news agency IRNA. Iran’s army chief ordered all resources to be used in search and rescue operations.
National broadcaster stopped all programming to show prayers for Raisi across the country. Early Monday, rescue teams in bright jackets and head torches searched a pitch-black mountainside in a blizzard. “We are thoroughly searching every inch of the general area of the crash,” said a regional army commander. The area had cold, rainy, and foggy weather, turning rain into snow.
Many countries expressed concern and offered assistance. The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed. China and the European Union also showed concern, offering emergency satellite mapping technology.
The crash occurred amid growing dissent in Iran over political, social, and economic crises. Iran faces international pressure over its disputed nuclear program and deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine. Tensions have risen since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel in October, provoking an Israeli assault on Gaza.
In Iran’s dual political system, the clerical establishment holds significant power. Raisi’s mentor, Supreme Leader Khamenei, has final say on major policies. Raisi was seen as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei. His 2021 election victory brought hardliners to power after pragmatist Hassan Rouhani’s presidency.
However, Raisi’s reputation suffered due to widespread protests and economic struggles caused by Western sanctions. Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who bid Raisi a “friendly farewell” earlier that day, offered assistance in the rescue efforts.
