Iran's president dies in a helicopter crash

### Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash **May 20, 2024 | Source: dpa** Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash, confirmed by state media. The crash also claimed the life of Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian. The incident has plunged the Islamic Republic into a political crisis. ### Details of the Crash On Sunday afternoon, Raisi and Amirabdollahian were returning from a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev when their helicopter disappeared from radar in thick fog. The helicopter was one of three returning to Iran after inaugurating a dam in Azerbaijan. Rescue teams discovered the wreckage early Monday morning after searching in difficult conditions. ### Reaction and Aftermath Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences, praising Raisi as an outstanding statesman. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with speculation ranging from bad weather to technical failure or sabotage. Israeli media reported that Israel had no involvement in the incident. ### Political Implications The deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian are expected to create a significant political void in Iran. First Vice President Mohammed Mochber will assume interim leadership. According to the constitution, Mochber, along with the parliament speaker and judiciary head, must organize a presidential election within 50 days, pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei has reassured the public that government operations will continue uninterrupted. Iran's outdated air force, affected by international sanctions, often faces technical issues. The loss of Raisi is a critical moment for the country, already struggling with political and economic challenges. ### Cause of Accident Unknown Initially, there was no official information regarding the cause of the accident. Speculation included bad weather, a technical defect in the helicopter, or even sabotage. As of Monday morning, no clear cause had been identified. ### Global Reactions to Raisi's Death **Putin Praises Raisi as an Outstanding Politician** Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Ebrahim Raisi as an outstanding politician and a true friend of Russia. In his condolence letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin stated, "He was rightly highly respected by his compatriots and enjoyed great prestige abroad. As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries and made great efforts to elevate them to a strategic partnership." Relations between Tehran and Moscow have traditionally been close. **EU's Condolences** EU Council President Charles Michel expressed his condolences on behalf of the EU. "The EU expresses its sincere condolences on the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident," Michel wrote on his official X account. "Our thoughts are with the families." **Chinese President Xi Jinping's Message** Chinese President Xi Jinping also conveyed his "deep sadness over the death" in a message. A spokesman quoted Xi saying, "His unfortunate death is a great loss for the Iranian people and the Chinese people have also lost a good friend." **Turkey's Response** Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences to the Iranian people and the families of Raisi and the other deceased. His message was shared in a post on the X platform. These expressions of sympathy from world leaders highlight the significant impact of Raisi's leadership and the profound loss felt both within Iran and internationally. ### "The Butcher of Tehran" Ebrahim Raisi, born in Mashhad in 1960, had a long career in Iran's judicial system, serving for over three decades. In 2019, he was appointed head of justice. As a public prosecutor, Raisi was reportedly responsible for numerous arrests and executions of political dissidents in 1988, earning him the nickname "Butcher of Tehran" from his opponents. Raisi had been considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who turned 85 in April. Despite rising criticism from the younger generation against the entire system of the Islamic Republic, Raisi faced significant domestic pressure. Recently, the government intensified its controversial enforcement of mandatory headscarves, further alienating parts of the population. While government supporters mourned Raisi, many Iranians expressed their satisfaction over the helicopter crash on social media, highlighting the administration's ultra-conservative policies, suppression of civil rights, and the severe economic crisis. ### Political Career Raisi was sworn in as president in August 2021, succeeding Hassan Rouhani, who could not run after two terms. As the leading hardliner candidate and the favored choice of Khamenei, Raisi won the election with nearly 62 percent of the vote. ### Relations and Policies Under Raisi's leadership, Iran's relations with the West deteriorated, particularly due to disputes over its nuclear program. Simultaneously, the Islamic Republic strengthened its economic and military ties with China and Russia. The potential for regional conflict with Israel also loomed during his tenure. Raisi's administration continued to emphasize ultra-conservative values, contributing to both domestic unrest and international tension.