By Comet Ziemer
Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, has died at the age of 63 due to a helicopter crash. The former president was a protege of the country’s supreme leader and helped in overseeing different political and military actions.
The president was declared dead on Monday, May 20th, after the wreckage of his helicopter was found with no survivors. Along with the president, the foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and other officials were also killed in the crash. The foreign minister represented the hard-line shift after the collapse of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. There were a total of eight victims, including three crew members.
The crash took place in the Dizmar forest in East Azerbaijan province. Search and rescue operations took place immediately, in which the rescue team faced deep forests, steep mountains, and dense fog that continued late into the night. The president of the Iranian Red-Cross Society, Pir-Hossein Koulivand, made a statement Sunday evening that 40 search teams would brave the conditions in order to find the wreck. Due to the weather conditions, the teams were unable to conduct aerial searches and had to go on foot.
Monday morning, supposed drone footage was released that showed a forest fire, where the wreckage was believed to be. When teams finally got to the wreckage, there were no signs of life from anyone on board.
What does this mean for Iran? Well as of right now, there is a gap in the political hierarchy in which the president once stood. In the Iranian constitution, it is said that if the president dies in office, the vice president is to take over. Mohammad Mokhber is the vice president and has announced that there will be no disruptions in country operations due to the crash. A new election will take place within 50 days.
Though Iran has many tensions with other countries, there have been numerous statements of support coming out since the crash. The U.S issued a statement and said that “we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Saudi Arabia has also issued a statement that it “stands by Iran in these difficult circumstances.”
Raisi leaves behind a wife and two daughters in his passing.
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