Helicopter Crashes into Mountain
State media confirmed that Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials died in a helicopter crash. The helicopter smashed into a mountain amid thick fog, according to state TV, which hampered the search and rescue efforts.
Complete Destruction
“President Raisi’s helicopter was completely burned in the crash… unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead,” an official told Reuters. Drone footage showed the tail of the helicopter and scattered debris.
Search and Rescue Efforts
As the sun rose, rescuers spotted the wreckage from around 1.25 miles away, reported Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The search, involving civilian and military teams, was significantly hindered by fog and the remote location.
Context of the Incident
Presidential Visit to Azerbaijan
President Raisi, 63, was returning from Azerbaijan where he had opened a dam with the country’s president. Raisi was seen as a frontrunner to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader.
Other Victims
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, also died in the crash. The governor of East Azerbaijan province, other officials, and bodyguards were believed to be on board.
Convoy and Helicopter Details
The president’s helicopter was part of a convoy of three aircraft. Iranian media initially described the incident as a “hard landing.” The helicopter was identified as an American-made Bell 212 by Iranian news agency IRNA.
International Condolences
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to react to the news, posting on X: “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed “great sadness and great sorrow” in a statement. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered “deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation” on X.
Raisi’s Political Legacy
Election and Sanctions
Ebrahim Raisi was elected in 2021 in a vote with the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. He was sanctioned by the US over the mass execution of political prisoners at the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988.
Raisi’s tenure included major protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.
Likely Successor
Sky’s Middle East correspondent, Alistair Bunkall, suggests that Raisi’s successor is almost certain to be “another ultra-conservative hardliner,” indicating that Iran’s approach to foreign affairs and the war in Gaza is likely to remain unchanged.
Bunkall also noted that anti-government protesters might seize this opportunity to take to the streets again. Dissident groups inside Iran, including an offshoot of Islamic State, could seek to exploit the situation.
This tragic event marks a significant moment in Iran’s political landscape, with potential ramifications both domestically and internationally.
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Written By: Doris Chinwe Omemgbeoji