Although there were reports of possible communication with the crew until last night, it appears that there were no survivors, as the helicopter crashed as opposed to what was believed to be a hard landing.
NDTV
On 21st May 2024 report emerged of a helicopter incident involving the Iranian president and Foreign Minister, which resulted in a search which lasted long hours in bad weather conditions. The search which kick-started following reports of a ‘hard landing’ of the helicopter transporting government officials of Iran, including the president of the country lasted all night, finally concluding on May 20th.
By 20th May 2024, all major news outlets had reported that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian along with others on the helicopter tragically killed in the tragic crash in East Azerbaijan province on 19th May. Although there were reports of possible communication with the crew until last night, it appears that there were no survivors, as the helicopter crashed as opposed to what was believed to be a hard landing. It is being speculated that the crash was caused by poor weather conditions, although the official reasoning has not been revealed as of right now.
Following the death of the former President, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the interim president and declared five days of national mourning. Additionally, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has also been appointed as acting foreign minister following the death of Amirabdollahian. The crash has thrown the country into a period of uncertainty, with many speculating about the political implications and the future direction of Iran's government.
Raisi, known for his hardline stance and deep connections within Iran's judiciary and religious elite, was a significant figure in Iranian politics. With this loss, a new presidential election is set to take place within the next 50 days, as per the Islamic Republic’s constitution.
