Iran will start registration of candidates for an early election on Thursday, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Watch in for more details!

Early Presidential Elections in Iran: Candidates begin registration process on Thursday

The first investigative report on the fatal helicopter crash which led to the death of the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the officials who accompanied him has been released by the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces.

Iran's report on Raisi's helicopter crash finds no foul play; 'chopper didn't deviate from route'

Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19. Will there be a political crisis in Iran? What his death means for the middle East. What were Raisi's policies at home and abroad? How did Raisi transform Iran's foreign policy? Watch WION Wideangle | Raisi's death: What next?

Raisi's death: What's next?

The first of several funeral ceremonies to be held for President Raisi in Iran, after he was killed when his helicopter crashed in poor weather in mountains near the Azerbaijan border, according to officials and state media.

Ebrahim Raisi news: Iran to hold Raisi's funeral procession in Tehran

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Iran's Supreme leader Khamenei has announced five days of mourning following the death of country's President Ebrahim Raisi. Iran's government has said that the funeral for the President will be held on Tuesday.

Raisi news: World leaders offer condolences after Iran President Ebrahim Raisi's death

Raisi news: Funeral procession of Raisi to be held in various Iranian cities

Raisi news: Leaders around the world pour condolences; Pope Francis, US offers condolences

Reportedly, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister died in a helicopter crash. The helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain and icy weather. The news came after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.

Ebrahim Raisi news: A look at Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi's life

Ebrahim Raisi news: Who was Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi? A quick look into his life

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister died after their helicopter crashed as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, an Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

Iran President Raisi and eight others dead in chopper crash in Iran

Iran lost two of its tallest leaders, President Ebrahim Raisi and Finance Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash on Monday.

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that "all passengers of a helicopter carrying Iranian President, foreign minister were martyred" when their helicopter crashed as it was crossing a mountain terrain in heavy fog.

After search and rescue teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province, a senior Iranian official&nbsp;confirmed to Reuters that "all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash".

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State news agency IRNA said Raisi and Amir-Abdollahain were flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.

At a time when the Middle East is brewing up with the Israel-Hamas conflict, Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian’s death can further lead to volatility in the region. Both leaders were staunch supporters of Gaza and the loudest voices against Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

<h2>Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's FM who was once described as "another Qassem Suleimani"&nbsp;</h2>

When Hossein Amir-Abdollahain took office of foreign ministry in 2021, he was described as “another Qassem Suleimani in the field of diplomacy” by an Iranian lawmaker. The comment was made because of Amir-Abdollahain’s closeness to Suleimani’s views, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force who was assassinated in a US drone strike in January 2020.&nbsp;

Like Suleimani, the deceased finance minister was also well known for his support to the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East, the informal Iranian-led political and military groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.

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روز پنج‌شنبه هفته جاری در جریان سخنرانی در نشست عالی‌رتبه شورای امنیت سازمان ملل متحد، تاکید کردم که ایران همواره بر عدم توسعه دامنه تنش در منطقه تاکید دارد. ضمن تبیین چرایی و ابعاد پاسخ مشروع کشورمان در حمله موشکی رژیم اسراییل به سفارت کشورمان در دمشق، به صراحت نسبت به هرگونه… <a href="https://t.co/9VDkQDUhI9">pic.twitter.com/9VDkQDUhI9</a>
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amirabdolahian/status/1781183283549589977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The 60-year-old Amir-Abdollahain, who previously served as speaker of parliament for international affairs, once referred to himself as Suleimani’s “soldier”. He said every time he went to a country as a diplomatic and negotiation envoy, he would first consult with Suleimani to get the necessary guidance.

He was born in Damghan, which is 200 miles north of Tehran, but his family moved to the capital when he was six after his father passed away. Amir-Abdollahain and family settled in one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods, on 17 Shahrivar Street to the south of Mehrabad International Airport. He used to proudly call himself “from the south”- a term generally used for families who live in the poor southern outskirts of Tehran.

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Despite growing up in poverty, in 1991, he received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the School of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then went on to receive his master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from the University of Tehran.

He was appointed undersecretary of Iran’s embassy to Iraq in 1997. Previously, Amir-Abdollahain volunteered to serve in the Iran-Iraq war from 1980-1988, which led him to work at the foreign ministry's Iraq desk in 1990 and 1991.

In 2011, due to Amir-Abdollahian’s good relation with the Quds Force and Suleimani, then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed him as deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, where most activities of the Quds Force took place.

When in 2013 Mohammad Javad Zarif became foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian was the only deputy foreign minister from the Ahmadinejad era to keep his post, which he held for three more years.

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Following the undeclared resignation of Zarif, various media sources speculated that Amir-Abdollahian was a potential candidate for the ministerial position.

He was clear in his thoughts as to what he wanted to achieve as a foreign minister. “We in the Middle East are looking to consolidate the achievements of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ field,” he said during his parliamentary review for the job.

This thought process seemed in line with President Raisi and his foreign policy goals as well. The IRGC, Sulemani and even Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s trust in him gave Amir-Abdollahain utmost credibility in the Iranian policy and diplomacy arena.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran lost two of its tallest leaders, President Ebrahim Raisi and Finance Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash on Monday. Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that "all passengers of a helicopter carrying Iranian President, foreign minister were martyred" when their helicopter crashed as it was crossing a mountain terrain in heavy fog.

Iran lost two of its tallest leaders, President Ebrahim Raisi and Finance Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash on Monday. Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that "all passengers of a helicopter carrying Iranian President, foreign minister were martyred" when their helicopter crashed as it was crossing a mountain terrain in heavy fog. After search and rescue teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province, a senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that "all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash". Also Read | Chinese banks maintain lending rates amid economic challenges State news agency IRNA said Raisi and Amir-Abdollahain were flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. At a time when the Middle East is brewing up with the Israel-Hamas conflict, Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian’s death can further lead to volatility in the region. Both leaders were staunch supporters of Gaza and the loudest voices against Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's FM who was once described as "another Qassem Suleimani" When Hossein Amir-Abdollahain took office of foreign ministry in 2021, he was described as “another Qassem Suleimani in the field of diplomacy” by an Iranian lawmaker. The comment was made because of Amir-Abdollahain’s closeness to Suleimani’s views, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force who was assassinated in a US drone strike in January 2020. Like Suleimani, the deceased finance minister was also well known for his support to the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East, the informal Iranian-led political and military groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis. روز پنج‌شنبه هفته جاری در جریان سخنرانی در نشست عالی‌رتبه شورای امنیت سازمان ملل متحد، تاکید کردم که ایران همواره بر عدم توسعه دامنه تنش در منطقه تاکید دارد. ضمن تبیین چرایی و ابعاد پاسخ مشروع کشورمان در حمله موشکی رژیم اسراییل به سفارت کشورمان در دمشق، به صراحت نسبت به هرگونه… pic.twitter.com/9VDkQDUhI9 — H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) April 19, 2024 × The 60-year-old Amir-Abdollahain, who previously served as speaker of parliament for international affairs, once referred to himself as Suleimani’s “soldier”. He said every time he went to a country as a diplomatic and negotiation envoy, he would first consult with Suleimani to get the necessary guidance. He was born in Damghan, which is 200 miles north of Tehran, but his family moved to the capital when he was six after his father passed away. Amir-Abdollahain and family settled in one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods, on 17 Shahrivar Street to the south of Mehrabad International Airport. He used to proudly call himself “from the south”- a term generally used for families who live in the poor southern outskirts of Tehran. Also Read | Ebrahim Raisi dead: Who is Mohammad Mokhber, Iran's likely interim president Despite growing up in poverty, in 1991, he received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the School of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then went on to receive his master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations from the University of Tehran. He was appointed undersecretary of Iran’s embassy to Iraq in 1997. Previously, Amir-Abdollahain volunteered to serve in the Iran-Iraq war from 1980-1988, which led him to work at the foreign ministry's Iraq desk in 1990 and 1991. In 2011, due to Amir-Abdollahian’s good relation with the Quds Force and Suleimani, then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed him as deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, where most activities of the Quds Force took place. When in 2013 Mohammad Javad Zarif became foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian was the only deputy foreign minister from the Ahmadinejad era to keep his post, which he held for three more years. Also Read | Australian PM Albanese gains popularity following big-spending budget: Survey Following the undeclared resignation of Zarif, various media sources speculated that Amir-Abdollahian was a potential candidate for the ministerial position. He was clear in his thoughts as to what he wanted to achieve as a foreign minister. “We in the Middle East are looking to consolidate the achievements of the ‘Axis of Resistance’ field,” he said during his parliamentary review for the job. This thought process seemed in line with President Raisi and his foreign policy goals as well. The IRGC, Sulemani and even Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s trust in him gave Amir-Abdollahain utmost credibility in the Iranian policy and diplomacy arena. (With inputs from agencies)

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: Iran's FM who was once described "another Qassem Suleimani" dies in copter crash

Hamas on Monday (May 20) mourned the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash reported on the evening of Sunday (May 19).&nbsp;

The Palestinian militant group, that is fighting a war with Israel, said that Raisi supported the Palestinian people during the ongoing offensive.

"These leaders supported the legitimate struggle of our people against the Zionist entity, provided valued support to the Palestinian resistance, and made tireless efforts in solidarity and support in all forums and fields for our people in the steadfast Gaza Strip during the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood," referring to the war with Israel which began on Oct 7.

"They also made significant political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people," said Hamas in a statement.

Raisi, who was also seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, lost his life in a helicopter crash that was first reported on Sunday evening.&nbsp;

The incident took place in the mountainous terrain near the border of Azerbaijan, as the Iranian leader was returning from the Khoda Afarin region after inaugurating a dam.

The helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was found in a charred state early on Monday after an overnight search amid rain and fog.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-declares-one-day-state-mourning-after-iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-dies-in-helicopter-crash-723584">Also read: India declares one-day state mourning after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash</a>

<h2>'Raisi played important role in supporting Palestinians,' says Islamic Jihad</h2>

The Islamic Jihad group, which is fighting alongside Hamas in the war-torn Gaza Strip, also released a statement saying that Raisi and Amirabdollahian "played a prominent and clear role in supporting and assisting the struggle of the Palestinian people and its resistance in facing the ongoing criminal Zionist aggression."

"We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran can overcome this painful ordeal, as it has overcome all difficulties and challenges throughout its extended journey over the past decades," the group added.&nbsp;

<h2>Hezbollah expresses condolences</h2>

Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah offered its condolences on the death of Raisi.

"On the occasion of the painful incident that led to the martyrdom of Mr. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the martyrdom of our dear brother Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic and the representative of His Eminence Imam Khamenei in Azerbaijan Province, Mr. Mohamed Ali Al Hashem and the rest of the honourable brothers. Hezbollah in Lebanon extends its deepest condolences and feelings of sympathy for their loss," the statement said.

"We have known His Eminence the martyr president closely for a long time. He was a big brother to us, a strong supporter, a staunch defender of our causes and the nation’s causes, foremost of which is Jerusalem and Palestine, and a protector of the resistance movements and their fighters in all the positions of responsibility he assumed," it added.&nbsp;

<h2>Iran and Gaza war</h2>

The statements by the militant groups claiming support from Raisi in the war against Israel come against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the besieged Palestinian enclave which started after Hamas' assault on Oct 7.

Iran has repeatedly refuted claims of its involvement in what is termed one of the bloodiest attacks in Israel's history.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Hamas' unprecedented attacks against Israel, had said, "The supporters of the Zionist regime (Israel) and some people in the usurping regime (a reference to USA) have been spreading rumours over the past two or three days, including that Islamic Iran was behind this action. They are wrong."

Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had also denied an Iranian role in the attacks, “The accusations linked to an Iranian role… are based on political reasons.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Hamas on Monday (May 20) mourned the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash reported on the evening of Sunday (May 19).

Hamas on Monday (May 20) mourned the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash reported on the evening of Sunday (May 19). The Palestinian militant group, that is fighting a war with Israel, said that Raisi supported the Palestinian people during the ongoing offensive. "These leaders supported the legitimate struggle of our people against the Zionist entity, provided valued support to the Palestinian resistance, and made tireless efforts in solidarity and support in all forums and fields for our people in the steadfast Gaza Strip during the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood," referring to the war with Israel which began on Oct 7. "They also made significant political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people," said Hamas in a statement. Raisi, who was also seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, lost his life in a helicopter crash that was first reported on Sunday evening. The incident took place in the mountainous terrain near the border of Azerbaijan, as the Iranian leader was returning from the Khoda Afarin region after inaugurating a dam. The helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was found in a charred state early on Monday after an overnight search amid rain and fog. Also read: India declares one-day state mourning after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash 'Raisi played important role in supporting Palestinians,' says Islamic Jihad The Islamic Jihad group, which is fighting alongside Hamas in the war-torn Gaza Strip, also released a statement saying that Raisi and Amirabdollahian "played a prominent and clear role in supporting and assisting the struggle of the Palestinian people and its resistance in facing the ongoing criminal Zionist aggression." "We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran can overcome this painful ordeal, as it has overcome all difficulties and challenges throughout its extended journey over the past decades," the group added. Hezbollah expresses condolences Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah offered its condolences on the death of Raisi. "On the occasion of the painful incident that led to the martyrdom of Mr. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the martyrdom of our dear brother Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic and the representative of His Eminence Imam Khamenei in Azerbaijan Province, Mr. Mohamed Ali Al Hashem and the rest of the honourable brothers. Hezbollah in Lebanon extends its deepest condolences and feelings of sympathy for their loss," the statement said. "We have known His Eminence the martyr president closely for a long time. He was a big brother to us, a strong supporter, a staunch defender of our causes and the nation’s causes, foremost of which is Jerusalem and Palestine, and a protector of the resistance movements and their fighters in all the positions of responsibility he assumed," it added. Iran and Gaza war The statements by the militant groups claiming support from Raisi in the war against Israel come against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the besieged Palestinian enclave which started after Hamas' assault on Oct 7. Iran has repeatedly refuted claims of its involvement in what is termed one of the bloodiest attacks in Israel's history. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Hamas' unprecedented attacks against Israel, had said, "The supporters of the Zionist regime (Israel) and some people in the usurping regime (a reference to USA) have been spreading rumours over the past two or three days, including that Islamic Iran was behind this action. They are wrong." Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had also denied an Iranian role in the attacks, “The accusations linked to an Iranian role… are based on political reasons.” (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas, Islamic Jihad mourn Raisi’s demise, hail him for ‘support’ in war against Israel

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Ebrahim Raisi news: Massive search operations are underway for the missing helicopter in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was on board along with Foreign Minister and other delegates. The helicopter - Bell 212 - is a two blade medium helicopter. Watch the video to know more.

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A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed on Sunday while traversing mountainous terrain in dense fog. The incident occurred as they were returning from a visit to the Azerbaijan border. Rescue teams are trying to locate Iranian President Raisi's chopper in Jolfa.

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A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed on Sunday under poor weather conditions. The accident occurred when Raisi was returning from his visit of East Azerbaijan province. Rescue workers are searching for the helicopter and people onboard.

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and 8 others died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iranian officials confirmed on Monday after search teams located the wreckage.

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