Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died at the age of 63 in a helicopter crash, according to reports from Iranian news outlets.
On Monday, rescuers located the helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and seven other senior officials after it crashed in the mountainous northwest of Iran.
The crash occurred just weeks after Iran launched a drone-and-missile attack on Israel in retaliation for a deadly strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus.
Raisi, a hardliner, became president in 2021 following a historically uncompetitive election.
Before his presidency, he served as chief justice and oversaw a period of intensified repression against dissent amid youth-led protests against clerical rule.
As the second-most powerful figure in Iran’s political hierarchy, Raisi was only subordinate to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to the Iranian Constitution, the first vice president assumes office upon the president’s death, pending approval from the Supreme Leader.
Uncertainty gripped Iran on Sunday as search and rescue teams combed a foggy mountainous area after President Raisi’s helicopter went missing. State media described the incident as an “accident.”
Concerns grew after contact was lost with the aircraft in East Azerbaijan province. Supreme Leader Khamenei reassured the nation, urging people not to worry about the country’s leadership, and expressed hope for Raisi’s safe return.
International expressions of concern and offers of assistance came from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union, which activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in the search.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, thanked international governments and organizations for their support in the search and rescue operations.
State television initially reported that the helicopter had an “accident” in the Jolfa region. Harsh weather conditions and heavy fog hampered rescue efforts.
Iran’s Red Crescent chief, Pirhossein Koolivand, stated that the exact location of the crash remained unidentified and described the situation as “difficult.” Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed the helicopter made a hard landing in bad weather, complicating communication with the aircraft.
He urged citizens to rely on state television for information and avoid foreign media channels hostile to the Islamic republic.
Following the incident, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber led an emergency cabinet meeting, as reported by IRNA.
The convoy included three helicopters, with the other two safely reaching their destination, according to the Tasnim news agency.
More than 60 rescue teams, equipped with search dogs and drones, were deployed to the mountainous forest area of Dizmar near Varzaghan, as reported by the IRNA news agency.
