Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has officially confirmed the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, from the helicopter crash on Sunday.
The late President’s helicopter crashed in a mountainous region between Iran and East Azerbaijan as he returned from a state visit to his neighbour.
Early Monday morning, rescuers found the wreckage amidst severe blizzard conditions.
Rescue teams had been searching since Sunday afternoon after the helicopter went missing from radar.Â
Helicopter Wreckage Found
Raisi was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and some aides. No survivors were reported.
Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, reported no signs of life at the crash site.Â
State TV aired images of the wreckage. Exact cause of the crash remains unknown. While treacherous weather conditions seems likely the cause, there are speculations about possible sabotage, or even a downright assassination.
Raisi has been a hardliner in foreign affairs. He is a strong critic of the West and Israel and supports Iranian affiliate forces like Hezbollah and Hamas, at least politically, to say the least.
A “Martyr” Has Gone
State TV went on air and portrayed the death of the 63-year-old president a martyrdom.Â
“The servant of the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” Mehr news agency declared.
Iran Mourns
Supreme Leader Ayatollah followed the flurry of announcements with an order for an official morning.
 “I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” Khamenei said.
He assured Iranians of stability and continuity in governance in the Islamic Republic, saying “There will be no disruption in the country’s work”.
Nations React
International reaction followed the announcement of Raisi’s demise. China expressed deep condolences saying, it was “a great loss to the Iranian people and the Chinese people have lost a good friend”. The European Union offered satellite mapping technology to assist during the rescue effort, but merely said, “The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected“.
Transition To New President
Iran’s constitution states that the first vice president assumes the position of president in the event of death of a presdient in office. Now with the demise of Ebrahim Raisi confirmed, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber takes over as the interim president. The 69-year-old is believed to be a close aide of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Late President Raisi was born in Mashhad, Iran. At five he lost his father and later became a cleric. He is reported to have participated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He was very influential and close to Ayatollah Khamenei – the Supreme Leader. Some say he was being tipped as a potential successor to the Leader.
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