Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have been found dead, after their helicopter crashed in a sudden, intense fog in mountainous terrain. The incident has grabbed headlines across the globe.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holding the final say in the nation, quickly named Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as caretaker. But the deaths mark yet another hit to Iran facing pressures both at home and abroad.
The Iranian regime has offered no cause for the helicopter crash nor suggested sabotage triggered the incident. In the capital Tehran, businesses remained open and children attended school, although amid a noticeable presence of security forces.
The incident comes as the brutal Israel-Hamas war continues. Iran-backed Hamas led the October 7 attack that started the conflict, and Hezbollah – also supported by Tehran, has fired rockets at Israel. Last month, Iran launched a drone-and-missile attack on Israel.
The Gaza crisis has brought a significant portion of the Middle East into utter chaos. Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7 and took many others hostages. Israel’s retaliatory strikes, on the other hand, have already claimed 35,500 lives.
Global leaders’ reactions to Ebrahim Raisi’s death
President of UAE
Prime Minister of India
Emir of Qatar
President of Turkey