On Sunday, a helicopter crashed in heavy fog while flying over mountains in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. The crash killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed the news on Monday on social media and state television. The crash also killed East Azerbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s guard team, and Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, the Supreme Leader’s representative in the East Azerbaijan province.
A senior Iranian official, who wanted to stay anonymous, told Reuters that everyone on the helicopter died. Iran’s Mehr news agency also confirmed that all passengers were “martyred.”
The helicopter was a US-made Bell 212. Bad weather caused the crash and made rescue efforts difficult. The head of the Iran Red Crescent Society, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, said no survivors were found after hours of searching the crash site.
President Raisi and the other officials were returning to Iran after attending a dam inauguration ceremony near the border with the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to Article 131 of Iran’s Constitution, after the President’s death, First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber will take over, following approval from the Supreme Leader.