Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tragically died in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan on Sunday. The helicopter, carrying President Raeisi and his delegation, went down in the Dizmar forest, located between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa.
The ill-fated flight was transporting a high-profile group, including East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Tabriz’s Friday Prayers leader Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, and a member of the president’s bodyguard team, Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot, and crew were also on board.
The delegation was returning from a ceremony inaugurating a dam on the Aras River, a project attended by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with early reports indicating the helicopter caught fire upon impact.
In response to the tragic deaths, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, declared a five-day period of national mourning in Iran. This announcement reflects the profound grief and sense of loss felt across the nation.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Iran and beyond, as the country mourns the loss of its leader and key government officials. The crash not only marks a significant personal loss but also presents potential implications for Iran’s political landscape and international relations.