TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a prominent hardliner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed dead in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media reported on Monday.
The helicopter, which crashed on Sunday, was carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. The charred wreckage was discovered early Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.
“All passengers, including President Raisi and the foreign minister, perished in the crash,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and state television later confirmed Raisi’s death.
State TV images showed the helicopter crashed into a mountain peak, though the cause of the crash remains unknown. Rescue teams faced blizzards and difficult terrain to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
“We have located the wreckage, and there are no signs of life,” said Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, on state TV.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and announced a day of mourning in Pakistan. “The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” he said, recalling Raisi’s recent visit to Pakistan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed sorrow, highlighting Raisi’s contributions to India-Iran relations. “My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” Modi posted on X.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021. His tenure was marked by strict enforcement of morality laws, a crackdown on protests, and a firm stance in nuclear negotiations.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assured Iranians that the government would continue to function seamlessly. “The path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi,” the cabinet said in a statement, emphasizing no disruption to state affairs.
