Reportedly, Iran President Ebrahim Raisi tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border, in harsh conditions.
Following his inauguration of Qiz Qalasi Dam at the border with the Azerbaijan Republic earlier in the day, Raisi headed to Tabriz City on Sunday in a helicopter accompanied by two more helicopters.
A blizzard driven overnight search discovered Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s burnt chopper wrecked early Monday.
After President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died on Monday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan president of the UAE sent his condolences to Iran.
On board the wrecked aircraft were Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Governor Malek Rahmati of East Azarbaijan Province, and Mehdi Mousavi, head of Raisi’s protection squad. Another individual who joined them was Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, who is the provincial representative of the Supreme Leader.
“All the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash,” Iran Officials said.
After winning the presidency in 2021, Raisi, 63, has tightened morals rules, cracked down on anti-government protesters, and pushed hard in nuclear talks with foreign powers.
No official word on the reason of the accident, but photographs from the location indicated the aircraft hit into a mountain peak.
“46 rapid response and rescue teams from the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Tehran, Alborz, Ardabil, Zanjan and West Azarbaijan were mobilized to help in the search and rescue operation,” , Iran’s Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said.
To highlight the nationwide prayers for Raisi, the national broadcaster had earlier canceled all regularly scheduled programs.
In a blizzard, a rescue squad wearing colorful jackets and head lamps clustered around a GPS gadget as they explored a pitch-black mountaintop on foot early Monday.
In response to Ebrahim Raisi’s death, presidents from across the world expressed their condolences.
