Iranian President and Foreign Minister Die in Helicopter Crash Amid Regional Tensions
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were found dead Monday after their helicopter crashed in foggy conditions, leaving the country without two key leaders amid extraordinary tensions in the Middle East.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly appointed a little-known vice president as caretaker and assured that the government remained in control. However, the deaths are a significant blow to a nation already under intense internal and external pressure. Iran has not yet provided a cause for the crash or suggested sabotage, noting only that the helicopter went down in mountainous terrain during a sudden, intense fog.
In Tehran, businesses remained open and children attended school on Monday, though there was a noticeable increase in both uniformed and plainclothes security forces downtown.
The crash coincides with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has further destabilized the region. Iran-backed Hamas initiated the conflict, and Hezbollah, also supported by Tehran, has fired rockets at Israel. Last month, Iran launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel.
Raisi, a hard-liner and former judiciary leader, was seen as a protege of Khamenei. His tenure saw deteriorating relations with the West as Iran enriched uranium closer to weapons-grade levels and supplied bomb-carrying drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. His government also faced mass protests over economic issues and women's rights.
The crash, which killed all eight aboard the Bell helicopter purchased in the early 2000s, also claimed the lives of the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, a Revolutionary Guard official, and three crew members, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Iranian helicopters, including those purchased during the shah's era, often face shortages of parts due to Western sanctions, leading to concerns about safety. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed the United States for the crash, citing embargoes on aircraft and aviation parts.
State TV has yet to provide a cause for the crash, which occurred in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Footage from IRNA showed the crash site in a steep valley within a green mountain range.
The U.S. has not commented on Raisi’s death. Ali Bagheri Kani, a nuclear negotiator, will serve as acting foreign minister, according to state TV.
Condolences have poured in from neighboring countries and allies. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Iran, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders offered their sympathies. Raisi, 63, was returning from inaugurating a dam at Iran's border with Azerbaijan when the crash occurred.
Khamenei declared five days of public mourning. Many Iranians are already struggling with the collapse of the country's currency and fears of escalating regional conflicts.
“He tried to carry out his duties well, but I don’t think he was as successful as he should have been,” said Mahrooz Mohammadi Zadeh, 53, a Tehran resident.
Khamenei stressed that the government would continue its work, but Raisi’s death raises questions about the future, especially regarding Khamenei’s potential resignation or death. Raisi had been a possible successor, along with Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba.
For now, Khamenei has named First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as caretaker. The constitution requires a new presidential election within 50 days.
Mokhber has already begun receiving calls from officials and foreign governments. An emergency Cabinet meeting was held Monday, with the government pledging to continue Raisi’s path and manage the country effectively.
Raisi, elected in 2021, faced U.S. sanctions over his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. Under his presidency, Iran enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, armed Russia, and conducted a drone-and-missile attack on Israel. Protests have continued in Iran, most notably after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, which led to a brutal crackdown.
Raisi is the second Iranian president to die in office. President Mohammad Ali Rajai was killed in a bomb blast in 1981, shortly after the Islamic Revolution.
