Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of mourning following the passing of the country’s President, Ebrahim Raisi.
Mr. Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of north-western Iran.
State media confirmed their deaths after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed on Sunday.
Ayatollah Khamenei extended his condolences “to the beloved people of Iran.”
Raisi, aged 63, had been considered a potential successor to the supreme leader.
Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed to assume interim responsibilities following the passing of the president.
Mr. Mokhber will collaborate with the heads of Iran’s legislature and judiciary to facilitate preparations for a presidential election within 50 days, as stipulated in Iran’s constitution for replacing a president who dies in office.
Iran’s cabinet has also designated deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as the acting foreign minister.
Reports indicated that the helicopter carrying the men and their entourage had landed roughly in foggy conditions. The area where the aircraft came down is near the border with Azerbaijan, where Mr. Raisi had been meeting President Ilham Aliyev.
According to local media, he was there to inaugurate the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams.
On Monday, the Iranian Red Crescent confirmed that the bodies of the president and others who perished in the crash had been recovered, and search operations had concluded.
“We are in the process of transferring the bodies of the martyrs to Tabriz [in Iran’s north-west],” the organisation’s chief said on state TV.
Iranian news outlet Tasnim, which is affiliated to the country’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, reported that President Ebrahim Raisi’s funeral will be held on Tuesday in Tabriz.
Mr. Raisi, aged 63, was a staunch cleric, and his presidency in 2021 solidified conservative dominance across all sectors of the Islamic Republic.
In a statement following his passing, the Iranian government assured continued operation “without interruption.”
Numerous countries have extended their sympathies upon President Raisi’s demise.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a national day of mourning, lauding Mr. Raisi and Mr. Amir-Abdollahian as “esteemed friends of Iran.”
In a social media post, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed being “deeply saddened and shocked” by the loss.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured full communication and coordination with Iranian authorities and readiness to “offer any necessary assistance.”
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed condolences, highlighting the president and foreign minister as “genuine, steadfast friends of our nation.” Meanwhile, China’s President Xi Jinping credited Mr. Raisi with contributing to Iran’s security and stability.
The EU on Monday expressed its “sincere condolences” and European Council President Charles Michel said “our thoughts go to the families”.
Hamas praised Mr Raisi’s support of the Palestinian group, while the Tehran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon said it was mourning the death of its protector.