President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Die in Helicopter Crash

President Ebrahim Raisi of the Islamic Republic of Iran perished along with several high-ranking government officials in a helicopter crash on Sunday in a mountainous region in northwest Iran.

Among the deceased were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and the chief imam of the region. The fatal incident was confirmed by Iranian state television at 7:30 AM local time, reporting no signs of life at the crash site after an exhaustive search amid harsh weather conditions, including dense fog in a forested, hard-to-reach area.

The Iranian news agency Mehr also confirmed the deaths of all passengers aboard the crashed helicopter, a US-made Bell 212. According to information gathered by El Mundo, the first images of the crash showed the aircraft crashed into a mountain peak about 670 kilometers from Tehran.

So far, the Cuban authorities—close allies of the ayatollahs' regime—have not commented on the death of the Iranian leader, despite previously expressing hopes that the crash victims would be found alive.

Details of the Crash and Rescue Operation

President Raisi was traveling with a convoy of three helicopters, but only his encountered problems. The other two helicopters landed without issues, according to Al Jazeera. No official details about the cause of the crash have been provided yet.

The search and rescue operation lasted over 12 hours and was extremely challenging due to adverse weather conditions, including thick fog, rain, and snow. Rescue teams from several countries in the region, including Turkey, Russia, Qatar, and Iraq, dispatched helicopters and night-vision drones to assist in the search. The aircraft was found about 70 kilometers from its last recorded GPS signal.

The bodies of the deceased were transported to Tabriz, the capital of the province where the accident occurred. The Iranian Red Crescent led the recovery operation, stating that conditions at the crash site were extremely tough. It was reported that two rescue teams lost contact with authorities during the search due to the adverse conditions.

International Reactions

The news of President Raisi's death and that of his entourage has sparked a wave of international condolences. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, expressed his "sincere condolences" via his official X account, highlighting the profound sorrow of the European Union. "Our thoughts are with the families," he added.

Regional leaders also expressed their shock and grief. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan voiced his "deep shock" over the tragedy and recalled his recent meeting with Raisi. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also offered their condolences, noting the loss of a "brother and friend."

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thanked Raisi for his work in strengthening ties between Syria and Iran. "We worked with the late president to ensure the strategic relations between Syria and Iran always remained prosperous," he said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Raisi as a "true friend of Russia" and highlighted his "invaluable contribution" to the development of bilateral relations. Leaders from Venezuela, India, and China also extended their condolences, with Chinese President Xi Jinping noting that "the Chinese people have lost a good friend."

National and Political Impact

In Iran, the government has declared a period of national mourning, and Vice President Mohammad Mojber has assumed the role of interim president. According to the Iranian Constitution, new elections must be held within 50 days.

Raisi, 63, was known as a hardline politician with the backing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Under his administration, severe crackdowns on domestic protests occurred, and the nuclear agreement with the United States remained unrenewed.

Raisi's death comes at a time of high regional tension due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Tehran has been accused by Tel Aviv of supporting the Palestinian group and other militias in the region. The situation has escalated in recent weeks, with direct attacks between Iran and Israel.

The Iranian government cabinet has pledged to continue Raisi's work. "We assure our loyal, grateful, and beloved nation that the path of service will continue with the spirit of the tireless Raisi, the hero and servant of the nation," it said in a statement. Iran's political future now hinges on the electoral process and the decisions that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will make in the coming days.