Just in: Iran President Ebrahim Raisi confirmed killed in helicopter crash
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been confirmed dead following a helicopter crash in north-western Iran on Sunday, according to state media.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several others are also reported to be among the dead
State media says the “hard landing” occurred as President Raisi was making his way to the city of Tabriz, after returning from the border with Azerbaijan.
The crash triggered a massive search operation that was hampered by bad weather conditions.
Several countries offered help with the rescue mission, including Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey also sent a mountain rescue team to Iran.
The names of some of those killed in the helicopter crash besides Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have now been released, according to the BBC
The IRNA state news agency says that also on board were Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, the imam for Friday prayers in the city of Tabriz, and General Malek Rahmati, the governor of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan.
The commander of the president’s protection unit, Sardar Seyed Mehdi Mousavi, was also killed, as were several bodyguards and helicopter crew who have not yet been named.
With this incident, vice-president Mohammad Mokhber, will continue to run the affairs of the country and jointly with the heads of parliament and the judiciary oversee an election for a new president within a maximum of 50 days.
