Iranian media on Monday mourned President Ibrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation shortly after the authorities announced that the helicopter they were traveling in had been found the day after it was involved in an “accident” in a mountainous region in the northwest of the country and that “no sign” of life had been detected in the wreckage.
The Iranian Red Crescent announced that rescue teams recovered on Monday morning the body of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and eight other people who were in the helicopter that crashed on Sunday in the northwest of the country.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, announced on state television, “We are transporting the bodies of the martyrs to Tabriz,” the centre of East Azerbaijan province where the accident occurred, announcing the end of the search operations.
The Iranian Council of Ministers held a second emergency session within less than 24 hours of confirming the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a helicopter crash, according to what Iranian media unanimously agreed on Monday morning.
The Iranian First Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber, had already chaired an emergency meeting held yesterday evening, Sunday, after the disappearance of the helicopter carrying nine people on board in northwestern Iran.
According to the protocol, after the death of Raisi, an informant must assume power, pending the approval of the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. New elections must then be held within 50 days.
Iranian state television confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, and their accompanying delegation following the crash of the helicopter they were carrying in East Azerbaijan province, according to what the Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported today.
Iranian media confirmed the death of Raisi and members of the delegation accompanying him, which included Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Governor of East Azerbaijan, Malek Rahmati, the Imam of Tabriz Juma, the security team of the Iranian President and some other officials in addition to the plane crew.
The Iranian government confirmed in a statement that it would continue to work without “the slightest glitch” after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
The government statement said, “The government assures the loyal, appreciative, and dear Iranian people that the path of pride and service will continue, and thanks to the spirit of the Ayatollah, my President, the hero, the servant of the people, and the loyal friend of the tireless leadership (…) there will not be the slightest defect or problem in the jihadi administration of the country.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he felt sad about a fall accident. A helicopter was carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, indicating that Turkey is in complete contact and coordination with the Iranian authorities and is ready to provide any necessary support.
IRNA reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei pressured Iranians to ensure that the state administration would not be affected by the helicopter crash and the uncertainty surrounding President Ebrahim Raisi’s fate.
He said, “The Iranian people should not worry, as there will be no disruption to the country’s work.” He added, “We pray to God Almighty to return our dear President and his companions in total health to the arms of the nation.
