Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. The accident occurred while Raisi and his entourage were traveling to Tabriz City after inaugurating the Qiz Qalasi Dam on the Azerbaijan border. The crash site, near Jolfa city, was challenging to reach due to harsh weather and heavy fog.
The helicopter crash also claimed the lives of several high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, head of Raisi’s security team. Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, the Supreme Leader’s representative in the province, was also on board. Local officials confirmed the deaths, and the Iranian government is expected to release an official statement soon.
Initial reports suggest the helicopter suffered a “hard landing,” and U.S. intelligence indicates the crash was an accident with no immediate signs of foul play. The 63-year-old President Raisi had earlier been with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to inaugurate the dam.
Source: Aljazeera