In a devastating turn of events, all passengers aboard the presidential helicopter in Iran have tragically perished. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society confirmed this heartbreaking news, sending shockwaves through the nation and beyond.
Details of the Tragedy
Preliminary reports suggest that the helicopter carrying several high-profile individuals crashed into a mountain.
Among the prominent figures onboard were President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmeti, and Ayatollah of Tabriz Province Ali Hashim.
The loss of such influential figures has left a void in Iran’s leadership and has plunged the country into mourning.
Media Coverage
Various reputable news agencies such as ISNA, Mehr, Fars, and Tasnim Agencies have covered the tragic incident extensively.
A poignant photo published by these agencies shows President Raisi’s helicopter partially visible amidst thick trees on a hillside, serving as a stark reminder of the fateful crash.
The nation is reeling from this catastrophic event, grappling with the loss of key figures who played significant roles in shaping Iran’s political landscape. The repercussions of this tragedy are profound and far-reaching, with tributes pouring in from both within Iran and from the international community.
As investigations into the cause of the crash unfold, questions linger about what led to this fatal accident and how such a tragedy could have been prevented. The impact of this loss on Iran’s future trajectory remains uncertain, as the nation navigates through this period of grief and reflection.
Ebrahim Raisi, a 63-year-old Shiite cleric who had been discussed as a possible successor to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The next presidential election is set for June 28, and with Raisi’s unfortunate demise, there is currently no clear favorite for the position among Iran’s political elite.
In the aftermath of the crash, acting President Mohammad Mokhber has stepped into his role. Mokhber, a relatively unknown first vice president until Sunday’s crash, attended a meeting between Khamenei and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday. Mashhad had served as a longtime base for Raisi.
Iran lays to rest former president
Raisi, who died alongside the country’s foreign minister and six others, was lowered by mourners into a tomb at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, where Shiite Islam’s eighth imam is buried and millions of pilgrims visit each year. Hundreds of thousands of people dressed in black crowded around the shrine under its iconic golden dome, wailing and beating their chests in sorrow in a sign of mourning common in Shiite ceremonies.
