Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies In Helicopter Crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash, Iranian state media confirmed. A senior Iranian official told the news agency Reuters that President Ebrahim Raisi, the foreign minister, and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash. Rescue teams had earlier located the wreckage of the helicopter in East Azerbaijan province.

The incident occurred during President Ebrahim Raisi's return flight to the Iranian city Tabriz after a ceremony to open the Qiz Qalasi Dam, located on the border of Iran and Azerbaijan. Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) chief Pirhossein Kolivand earlier said that there is no sign of survivors at the crash site. State media had shared the initial images of the crash site, showing the wreckage of the aircraft at a mountain peak. Nine people were on the helicopter that crashed on Sunday.

The cause of the crash is not known yet. It is to be noted that the incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly in light of the conflict in Gaza and Iran's recent escalations with Israel. According to the Iranian constitution, if a president dies in office, the first vice president takes over after confirmation from the supreme leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, holds decision-making power over all important policies.