Iran President Helicopter Crash Highlights: Khamenei appoints Mokhber as interim president, India announces 1 day state mourning on May 21

Iran president Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crashes

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, an Iranian official told Reuters, and rescuers were struggling to reach the site of the incident.

State TV had earlier stopped all its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country and, in a corner of the screen, live coverage of rescue teams deployed on foot in the mountainous area in heavy fog.

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Raisi: a hardliner on morality, protests and nuclear talks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain on Sunday, has become a contender to be Iran's next supreme leader with a clampdown on morality questions and a bloody crackdown on the nationwide protests it triggered.

Raisi's victory in an election in 2021, after heavyweight conservative and moderate rivals were disqualified by a hardline oversight body, brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Raisi's 85-year-old mentor, who has the final say on all major policies.

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Qatar, Russia offer help to Iran to locate Raisi

Qatar is ready to provide "all forms of support" for Iran's search efforts after a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday, the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia is ready to extend help to Iran in connection with the crash of a helicopter carrying the country's president, Ebrahim Raisi, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA news agency on Sunday.

"Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident," RIA quoted her as saying.

-Reuters

Search teams reach wreckage of Iranian President Raisi’s crashed helicopter, state TV reports

Search & rescue teams using drone to look at crash site

Iranian President Raisi feared dead as helicopter wreckage found

Hopes are fading that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister have survived a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official said on Monday after search teams located the wreckage.

"President Raisi's helicopter was completely burned in the crash ... unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead," the official told Reuters.

Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province in the early hours of Monday.

“We can see the wreckage and the situation does not look good,” the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, told state TV.

-Reuters

The moment when the wreckage was found

Who were the people in the ill-fated helicopter?

PM Modi expresses condolences at the death of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi

Hamas, Yemeni Houthis offer 'deepest condolences' over Raisi's death

The Hamas statement conveyed their "deepest condolences and solidarity" to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Iranian government, and the Iranian people for "this immense loss."

It praised the deceased Iranian leaders for supporting the Palestinian cause and resistance against Israel and expressed confidence that Iran's "deep-rooted institutions" will enable it to overcome "the repercussions of this great loss."

"Our deepest condolences to the Iranian people, the Iranian leadership, and the families of President Raisi and the accompanying delegation on their reported martyrdom. We ask God to grant their families patience and solace. Verily we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. The Iranian people will remain adhering to the loyal leaders of their people, by God's will," the Houthis' supreme leader said.

Iraq PM offers condolences over Raisi's death

"With profound sadness and deep sorrow, we received the tragic news of the passing of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and their companions, due to the unfortunate plane crash incident in northern Iran. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and to the nation of Iran, its government and people. We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the officials of the Islamic Republic during this painful tragedy," the Iraq PM said in a statement.

Pakistan to observe a day of mourning: PM Shahbaz Sharif

Mortal remains of Raisi and the other deceased being retrieved

Shocking tragedy: Kharge on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday condoled the death of Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash and said Indians stand with the people of Iran in this time of grief.

According to state media, Raisi, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of the crash in East Azerbaijan province on Monday after an hours-long search through a foggy and mountainous region.

In a post on X, Kharge said, "The Indian National Congress is anguished and dismayed by the passing away of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following the shocking tragedy."

"India-Iran relations span centuries marked by meaningful interactions. Every Indian joins in extending our heartfelt condolences to his family. In this time of grief, we stand with the people of Iran," the Congress president said.

- PTI

Israel not involved in death of Iran's Raisi, Israeli official says

Israel was not involved in the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash that also killed several members of his entourage, an Israeli official told Reuters on Monday. "It wasn't us," said the official, who requested anonymity.

-Reuters

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei expresses condolences

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed on Monday his condolences following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash which also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, state media reported.

Three branches of Iranian government hold 'extraordinary meeting' after president's death

Iran's three branches of government held an extraordinary meeting on Monday, with First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber representing the executive branch following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, state TV said.

"We will follow the path of President Raisi in fulfilling assigned duties without any interruption," Mokhber said.

The three branches to which state TV referred are the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.

If a president dies in office, the Islamic Republic's constitution says that the first vice president takes over for an interim period of 50 days, with the approval of the Supreme Leader, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran.

A new presidential election would be held at the end of the 50 days.

Iran's Supreme Leader approves Mokhber as interim president, declares 5 days mourning

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced five days of public mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a helicopter crash and confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim head of the country's executive branch.

Iran now has a maximum period of 50 days before a presidential election must be held to choose Raisi's successor.

"I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran," Khamenei said in a statement carried by the official news agency IRNA.

"... Mokhber will manage the executive branch and is obliged to arrange with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches to elect a new president within a maximum of 50 days," he said.

-Reuters

Erdogan expresses condolences

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad releases statement on Raisi's death

In a statement of condolence, Assad affirmed Syria's solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the families of the dead, adding that Raisi's dedication to his work and duties had taken him to East Azerbaijan to inaugurate a vital project for his country, where he was martyred in the line of duty.

Assad added that Syria had worked with the late president to ensure strategic ties between Syria and Iran remained prosperous, recalling Raisi's important visit to Syria as part of enhancing ties for the benefit of both nations.

-Reuters

Putin expressed his condolences to Iran over Raisi's death

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that when alarming news about the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi started to come in, Russia's Vladimir Putin invited the Iranian ambassador in Moscow for a conversation.

Putin sent his condolences to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday over the death of Ebrahim Raisi and said that he had been a true friend of Russia.

-Reuters

Raisi’s death comes at a crucial time for Iran, and West Asia

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and seven others, in a helicopter crash in the country’s East Azerbaijan province has come at a certain fraught moment for Iran, the region, and the world.

Raisi, a cleric and former head of the country's judiciary, was very close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his rise in power echelons in Iran since his foray into presidential elections in 2017 had been remarkably steady.  

He fought and lost to moderate Hassan Rouhani, known for his role in negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal that limited Tehran’s foray into making nuclear weapons.

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Chief nuclear negotiator of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani appointed as acting foreign minister

Top Shia cleric of Iraq Ali al-Sistani condoles the death of Raisi

"I offer my condolences to the nation and government of Iran, especially the families of the deceased, and wish them patience," Ayatollah al-Sistani said in a statement.

Syria, Lebanon declare 3 days of mourning

The middle-eastern countries of Syria and Lebanon are set to hold 3 days of national mourning over the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in an ill-fated helicopter crash.

-Reuters

One-day state mourning to be observed in India on May 21, government announces

The Union Home Ministry has declared a one-day state mourning across India on Tuesday as a mark of respect for the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.

The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is regularly flown across India and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.

"As a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries, the government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on May 21 (Tuesday) throughout India", an official spokesperson of the Home Ministry said.

-PTI

People in Jammu & Kashmir's Budgam gather on streets to pay tribute to late Iranian prez Raisi

UNSC members observe minute of silence in memory of late Iran prez Raisi, FM Amirabdollahian

Sri Lanka joins India in public mourning over Raisi death on May 21

Last rites of Raisi and others killed in chopper crash to begin on Tuesday, May 21, state media reports

The funeral ceremonies of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage are set to be carried out on May 21, Tuesday, in the city of Tabriz, as per Iran's state media. Their bodies will then be taken to Tehran, the capital of the country.