Photo Courtesy:[Reuters]
His excellency Ebrahim Raisi of the Islamic republic of Iran has been confirmed dead alongside Iranian foreign affairs minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials in a helicopter crash.
The accident occurred in the mountainous protected forest area of Dizmar near the town of Varzaghan, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Raisi’s convoy comprised three helicopters and despite being in an accident in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province, the other two are said to have landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
According to the Iranian constitution , the Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will take charge as an interim president and in 50 days , the country will elect a new president after Raisi had become president in 2021.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced five days of mourning following the death of the country’s President, with the death coming at a time the country faces a lot of diplomatic difficulties. The late Raisi was seen a s a leader who would rise to become the supreme leader of Iran in the future.
Iran’s cabinet has also appointed deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister to act on the role formerly held by the late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Several world leaders have come out with statements to mourn the death of the President Raisi. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Iran’s Khamenei, describing the deaths of the Iranian president and foreign minister as a ‘great tragedy,’ according to the Kremlin.
“I am deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered.” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The late president Raisi visited Kenya last year and President William Ruto has expressed his condolences saying he was a fearless leader and a dedicated public servant. “In light of the tragic news of the passing of H.E. Ebrahim Raisi, H.E. Hossein Abdollahian and his entourage of senior officials through a helicopter crash, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Iran.” President Ruto said through his X account.
A few countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan have announced days of mourning to commemorate the life of the late president Ebrahim Raisi.