Iran President Raisi Death: Supreme Leader Khameni Declares 5-days Of Mourning, Names Mohammed Mokhber As Interim Head

Iran envoy Amir Saeed Iravani has written letter to United Nations and UNSC following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his colleagues in a chopper crash.

Iravani in a letter said, "We believe the United Nations will join us in honoring their memory and supporting the principles they worked tirelessly to advance. Your support and the support of the international community is very important in trying to overcome this disaster and continue the path of peace and development."

As per the latest update, the chopper has been located. Iran's Tasnim news Agency citied the head of Iranian Red Crescent and stated that the wreckage related to the crash has been found.

Following the crash on Sunday night, Iran's president brahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have been assumed dead. However, as the helicopter was missing, there has been no confirmation of their deaths yet.

Based on the reports by state-run IRNA News, the helicopter was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, other officials and bodyguards. The helicopter crashed amid Raisi's return from the East Azerbaijan region.

Earlier in the day, Turkish drones, lent for the search and rescue operations, detected a "source of heat". As per the intel offered, this source of heat was a possible lead to find the helicopter.

However, as rescue teams moved towards the site, no remains of the chopper were found.

As per state media, the rescue teams are en-route to the location of the helicopter crash.

While the main reason as to why the helicopter crash is yet to be ascertained, experts have stated that it was likely due to bad weather.

Initially it had been reported that the helicopter had made an emergency landing due to bad weather. However, later it was reported that the chopper likely crashed due to bad weather.

As per Iranian news media, rescue teams on the stie of the helicopter crash have found no sign of life.

Ebrahim Raisi is seen as the ultimate successor to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In case the rescue operations determine the death of the President, the first vice president Mohammed Mokhber would be elevated to the level of President.

Speaking to news agency Reuters, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter was "completely burnt" due to the crash.

After the wreckage of the helicopter crash was found, rescue teams on site have stated that there seems to be "no sign of life" at the site. An official confirmation from the Iranian government regarding the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is awaited.

After Raisi's death is confirmed, next in the line of succession would be First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber.

However, Mokhber will only take office if his transfer is approved by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader serves as the final arbiter of domestic and foreign affairs in the country.

As per state media, "no sign of life" has been detected at the crash site as of now. Iran's Red Crescent chief Kolivand told the state TV that all passengers are feared dead.

US Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer has stated that there is no evidence of “foul play” involving the helicopter crash carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. As per NBC News, this statement from Schumer comes after speaking with intelligence authorities.

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent has stated that the rescue teams have reached the site of the crash and have found 'no sign of survivors". As per the officials on site, the entire cabin of the helicopter has been significantly damaged and burned.

IRGC affiliated Sabereeen news has reported that President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian and their entourage have all been killed in the helicopter crash in northwestern region of Iran.

Raisi's death has also confirmed by semi-official Mehr News Agency.

Along with President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian,  Khamenei's representative in East Azerbaijan, Malik Rahmati, the governor of the province were also on board the helicopter.

All passengers - government officials and flight and security teams have been feared dead as there is no trace of survivors.

President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Tabriz Friday Prayers imam Ayatollah Al-e Hashem, East Azarbaijan governor general Malek Rahmati, Raisi's bodyguard and the pilot have all been killed in the chopper crash in northwestern Iran. (This news was confirmed by various state news agencies in Iran)

Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered his condolences to the family of deceased Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," stated PM Modi.

Raisi, along with the Iranian foreign minister and other top officials were confirmed dead after the helicopter carrying them crashed on Sunday night.

Following the confirmation of the death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and eight others, Iranian state channels have been broadcasting prayers.

Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other top officials were declared dead after a helicopter crash on Sunday night.

Following the official announcement of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian cabinet has convened an emergency meeting.

Following Ebrahim Raisi's death, all eyes are now on Iran. The deaths of the President and Foreign minister come amid high tensions in the Middle East, especially due after Iran and Israel exchanged drone attacks last month.

With the president now dead, all eyes are on the Islamic republic for its next move and to see the impact Raisi's death will have on the overall geopolitical equation.

Several senior Iranian officials were also killed alongside Raisi in the helicopter crash in the Dizmar forest, located between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azerbaijan province.

The officials include:

• Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian

• East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati

• Representative of the Iranian supreme leader in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem

• Head of presidential guard Mehdi Mousavi

• The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot and crew

Iranian state broadcasters are airing Islamic prayers in between their news broadcasts following the announcement that President Ebrahim Raisi and eight others died after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. 

Iran's government convened an "urgent meeting" on Monday, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.

A photo shared by IRNA showed that the chair that Raisi usually sits in was vacant and draped with a black sash in memory of the president.

Iran's government convened an "urgent meeting" on Monday following the announcement that President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were among those who died in a helicopter crash, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.

The chair that Raisi usually sits in was vacant, and was draped with a black sash in memory of the president, according to a photo shared by state news.

The timing and details of a mourning procession will be announced in the future, state media FARS News Agency reported.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and eight others officials were found dead on Monday after their helicopter crashed in the East Azerbaijan province. Following the death of the president, leaders acorss the world have expressed their condolences.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani took to social media to express their shock over the sudden death of the 63-year-old leader. Read More Here

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held US responsible for the chopper crash. Speaking in a television interview, Zarif stated that the US is partly responsible for the helicopter crash as the sanction imposed by Washington prevent Iranians from accessing quality aviation equipment.

• President Ebrahim Raisi

• Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

• Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azarbaijan province

• East Azarbaijan Governor-General Malek Rahmati

• Second Brigadier General Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s security team

• A member of IRGC’s Ansar al-Mahdi division

• The pilot, co-pilot, and crew chief of the helicopter

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and eight other officials has brought the assassination of Qasem Soleimani once again into the spotlight.

Qasem Soleimani was a top Iranian general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from 1998 until his assassination in 2020.

Soleimani was often considered to be the right-hand man of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and was regarded as the second-most powerful figure in the state behind Khamenei.

The general was killed by an American drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020

Mohammad Mokhber, the first vice President of Iran has been approved has the acting president. Mokhber will be serving as the interim president of Iran following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has mourned the death of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, who it said had supported the Palestinian people during the recent war with Israel.

The body of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was retrieved from the crash site on Monday in Iran.

Iran’s Cyber Police on Monday issued a statement threatening social media users against posting content that could “provoke or disturb public emotions,” as large As a number of Iranians are cheering the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation.

The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi has lowered its flag to half-mast following the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Foreign Minister, and other officials in a helicopter crash.

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has declared five days of public mourning following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash in the country's northwestern area.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday held meeting with Iran’s ambassador in Moscow to his office in the Kremlin following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in helicopter crash.

Iran's government on Monday appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as the head of the international committee of Iran's Foreign Ministry, following the death of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash.

The oil prices witnessed a rise on Monday amid political uncertainty in major producing countries after Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash.

The dead bodies of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's other officials are being transported to Tabriz, northwest Iran.

Iran's Vice President Mohammad Mokhber who will takeover as the country's new President on Monday held a meeting with the heads of legislative and judicial branches.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Monday in a letter offered condolences to Iranian Supreme leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, stating: "We were deeply shocked by the news of the tragic loss suffered by friendly and brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, and its people -- the fatal helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other accompanying persons."

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday mourned the death of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi in the helicopter crash saying, "China lost a good friend".

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday said, "Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister have passed in a helicopter crash, as a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries Government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on 21st May throughout India. On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day."

Iran's former foreign minister Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, the Supreme Shia Marja of Iraq on Monday condoled the death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's other officials saying, it is "regrettful".

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has reportedly said that Moscow is ready to provide assistance to Iran’s investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to state news agency RIA.

The NATO on Monday expressed "condolences" to Iran over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

"Our condolences to the people of Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash," said NATO spokesperson Farah Daklallah on X.

Israel has said it was not involved in Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death, as per Reuters report. The report quoting an Israeli official, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It wasn't us."

The funeral rites of slain Iran President Ebrahim Raisi who was killed in a helicopter crash will be held on tomorrow(May 21), the country's state run media said.

France has extended its condolences to Iran over the death of its President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

The country's foreign ministry in a statement said, “France offers its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and those accompanying them...condolences to the families of the victims of this accident”.

Turkey's transport minister has reportedly said, "We believe the helicopter carrying the Iranian President, and foreign minister did not have a signal system turned on or did not possess such a system."

The UN’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he is “saddened” by the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his other colleagues.

In a statement, he said, “The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Iran’s military chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri has ordered a probe into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim and his other colleagues, according to the country’s ISNA news agency.

Bagheri reportedly ordered “a high-ranking committee to launch an investigation into the cause of the president’s helicopter crash”.

The members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence in memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his colleagues who were killed in a helicopter crash.

The chief of International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi has extended his condolences to Iran over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his colleagues in a chopper crash.

He said, “Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time."