Funeral Procession
Iranian authorities announced on Monday that the funeral procession for President Ebrahim Raisi would be held in Tehran on Tuesday following his death in a helicopter crash.
Mohsen Mansouri, vice president for executive affairs, informed state television, “On [Tuesday] morning, we will have the funeral procession in the city of Tehran” for Raisi and other members of his entourage killed in the crash.
Raisi, a hardliner viewed as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died after his helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border, according to officials and state media on Monday.
The helicopter, which crashed on Sunday, was found early Monday after an overnight search amid blizzard conditions. It was carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six other passengers and crew members. All those on board were killed.
Supreme Leader Khamenei announced that First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber would serve as interim president, as reported by the official IRNA news agency. Khamenei also declared five days of public mourning and expressed his condolences to the Iranian people.
Under Iran’s constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 50 days. Images from Iranian state television showed the wreckage on a foggy hillside, with Red Crescent workers carrying bodies on stretchers.
The crash’s cause remains unknown, but the helicopter was identified as a US-made Bell 212. Among the deceased were the governor of East Azerbaijan Province and a senior imam from Tabriz city.
Iranian military chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri ordered an investigation into the crash. Raisi, 63, elected president in 2021, was known for his strict enforcement of morality laws, crackdown on anti-government protests, and firm stance in nuclear negotiations with world powers.
Condolence messages have poured in from regional neighbors and allies, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, and Pakistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed their sorrow. The European Union and Japan issued condolences, while Iran-backed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels praised Raisi and mourned his death.
In contrast, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an exiled opposition group, called his death a “monumental and irreparable strategic blow” to the Islamic Republic.
Rescue teams battled harsh weather to reach the crash site, with no survivors found. The national broadcaster halted regular programming for prayers in Raisi’s honor.
Video footage showed rescue teams navigating the difficult terrain in the dark. The White House reported that President Joe Biden had been briefed, and China expressed deep concern. The EU offered emergency satellite mapping technology for the rescue efforts.
Raisi had visited the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who had bid Raisi a “friendly farewell” earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue operation.
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