World News world

Posted by admin on 2024-05-21 |

---

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border due to poor weather, officials and state media reported on Monday.

The charred remains of the helicopter, which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six other passengers and crew, were discovered early Monday after an overnight search amid blizzard conditions.

Raisi, known as a hardliner, was considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Reactions in Iran

Supreme Leader Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, said First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, would take over as interim president, the official IRNA news agency reported.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” Khamenei said in a statement. Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Khamenei.

Political Career

Since assuming office, the 63-year-old Raisi had enforced stricter morality laws, led a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, and taken a firm stance in nuclear negotiations with global powers.

In Iran’s dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who holds decision-making power on all major policies.

Although not guaranteed in Iran’s opaque political landscape, Raisi, a mid-ranking Shi'ite cleric, was widely seen as a leading candidate to succeed Khamenei.

Worldwide Condolences

Funeral ceremonies for Raisi will be held from Tuesday to Thursday in the cities of Tabriz, Qom, Tehran and Birjand until his final burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Masshad, according to Iranian media.

Messages of condolences flooded in from Iran’s other regional neighbours and allies, including the leaders of Syria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister contacted Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to offer condolences and reaffirm Saudi support for Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Raisi “a true friend of Russia”. The Kremlin said he had spoken to Mokhber by phone and both stressed "mutual intention to further strengthen Russian-Iranian interaction".

India observed a one-day state mourning on May 21 as a mark of respect, with the national flag flown at half-mast on all official buildings and no official entertainment events during the mourning period.