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Iran president Ebrahim Raisi death: Iran to hold presidential election on June 28: state media

Iran president Ebrahim Raisi death: Iran to hold presidential election on June 28: state media

Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi (file photo). Photograph: (X)

<p>On Sunday (May 19), Iran faced uncertainty following the disappearance of President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter in an alleged accident, as reported by state media. </p>

Key Updates

20 May 2024, 11:18 PM (IST)

Iran to hold presidential election on June 28, AFP reported citing state media. 

20 May 2024, 11:17 PM (IST)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his country would observe a day of mourning over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

"During our cabinet meeting, we have decided to declare a day of mourning in our country to share the deep pain of the Iranian people," Erdogan said during a televised speech. 

20 May 2024, 9:37 PM (IST)

Iran's military chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri ordered on Monday a probe into the cause of a helicopter crash that killed president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage. 

Bagheri ordered "a high-ranking committee to launch an investigation into the cause of the president's helicopter crash" that took place on Sunday, the ISNA news agency reported.  

20 May 2024, 8:35 PM (IST)

Members of the UN Security Council on Monday observed a minute of silence in memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash. 

Mozambique Ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso, who holds the rotating Council presidency in May, asked members to stand up and remain silent "in remembrance of the loss of life in a crash of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi" and his team, which took place on Sunday. 

20 May 2024, 8:30 PM (IST)

Turkey’s CNN Turk channel has broadcast images that it says show remains being moved from the site of the helicopter crash that killed the Iranian president. 

Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, and others were found dead at the site of the crash after an hours-long search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest, state media reported. 

20 May 2024, 7:33 PM (IST)

FunerRaisi and his entourage who died in a helicopter crash will start on Tuesday in the northwestern city of Tabriz, state media reported.

"The funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place Tuesday at 9:30 am local time (0600 GMT) in Tabriz", the official IRNA news agency said, adding that Raisi's body will later be taken to Tehran.

20 May 2024, 7:06 PM (IST)

Afghanistan's Taliban government expressed regret over the deaths of Iran's president and foreign minister.  

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and all Afghans are deeply saddened and affected by this tragic event," said Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund in a statement.

20 May 2024, 6:39 PM (IST)

Funeral rites for Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage who died in a helicopter crash will start on Tuesday in the northwestern city of Tabriz, state media reported.

"The funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place Tuesday at 9:30 am local time (0600 GMT) in Tabriz", the official IRNA news agency said, adding that Raisi's body will later be taken to Tehran.

Source: AFP

20 May 2024, 6:25 PM (IST)

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with Mohammad Mokhber, Iran’s first vice president who has been named who will now take over as country’s acting president following Raisi's death. 

Putin extended his condolences to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mokhber and “all the people of Iran,” according to the Associated Press. 

Putin also reportedly said that he knew and appreciated Raisi “as a reliable partner who made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of friendly relations between Russia and Iran.”

Mokhber, according to the Kremlin said, “expressed sincere gratitude for the words of sympathy and support during this difficult time for the country.”

20 May 2024, 5:32 PM (IST)

India has declared a one day's state mourning on Tuesday, May 21 throughout the country as a "mark of respect to the departed souls."

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian passed away in a helicopter crash. 

"On the day of mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," said the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a statement. 

20 May 2024, 4:59 PM (IST)

France extended its condolences to Iran over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials. 

"France offers its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and those accompanying them," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, also expressing its "condolences to the families of the victims of this accident."

20 May 2024, 4:29 PM (IST)

20 May 2024, 3:50 PM (IST)

Iran-backed members of the "Axis of Resistance" against Israel and its allies expressed their condolences after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. 

Palestinian militant group Hamas, Lebanon-based Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Syrian government and Iraq-based armed groups all mourned the death of Raisi. 

Hamas mourned Raisi as an "honourable supporter" of the Gaza-based group whose October 7 attack on Israel sparked the ongoing war in the Palestinian enclave. 

The Hezbollah, which has traded deadly cross-border fire with Israel amid the war, praised Raisi as "a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our causes... and a protector of the resistance movements".

It added, "Hezbollah in Lebanon extends its deepest condolences," the group said in a statement, adding that it had known Raisi "closely for a long time".

Houthi rebels in Yemen took to X and said Raisi's death was a loss "for the entire Islamic world and Palestine and Gaza". 

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Houthis have attacked Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea which has affected international shipping in support of Palestinians.

20 May 2024, 3:38 PM (IST)

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri was appointed Monday as acting foreign minister, a government spokesman said, after the death of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash.

The appointment of Bagheri, who served as deputy foreign minister under Amir-Abdollahian, was announced by government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi on state television.

20 May 2024, 2:28 PM (IST)

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.

"I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran," said Khamenei in an official statement a day after the death of Raisi and other officials in the crash in East Azerbaijan province.

20 May 2024, 2:30 PM (IST)

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has approved the appointment of First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president of the nation.

"... Mokhber will manage the executive branch and is obliged to arrange with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches to elect a new president within a maximum of 50 days," said Khamenei.

Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of the state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.

20 May 2024, 1:24 PM (IST)

20 May 2024, 12:10 PM (IST)

20 May 2024, 11:10 AM (IST)

The civilian variant of the widely deployed Vietnam War-era UH-1N "Twin Huey" helicopters is extensively used worldwide by both governmental and private entities.

Read this report to know more.

20 May 2024, 11:08 AM (IST)

The officials include:

  • Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian
  • East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati
  • Representative of the Iranian supreme leader in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem
  • Head of presidential guard Mehdi Mousavi
  • The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot and crew

Raisi and his associates were returning from a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev when the crash occurred.

20 May 2024, 11:07 AM (IST)

Iranian authorities have reported that some of the bodies were severely burned, making it difficult to identify individuals at the crash site.

20 May 2024, 10:49 AM (IST)

“Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at time of this tragedy,” EAM S Jaishankar said in a X post.

20 May 2024, 10:12 AM (IST)

In Iran, according to Article 131 of the constitution, if the president dies during their term, the first vice president, currently Mohammad Mokhber, temporarily assumes the presidency, pending confirmation by the supreme leader. Additionally, a council consisting of the first vice president, the parliamentary speaker, and the judiciary head is responsible for organizing a new presidential election within a maximum of 50 days.

20 May 2024, 9:33 (IST)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known for his hardline stance and often considered a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media reported on Monday (May 20).

Later, Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed Raisi's death in a social media statement, which was also reported on state television.

20 May 2024, 9:28 (IST)

The White House announced that President Joe Biden has cancelled his weekly vacation and returned to the White House after the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation made a hard landing.

20 May 2024, 9:25 (IST)

In August 2021, shortly after assuming office, Raisi appointed Mokhber as his first vice president. Mokhber is the seventh individual to hold this position since the constitutional revision.

Prior to becoming vice president, Mokhber spent 14 years leading Iran's Setad, a significant economic conglomerate primarily dedicated to charitable activities.

20 May 2024, 9:22 (IST)

As per a Reuters news agency report, Article 131 of the Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president assumes the role of acting president in case the Iranian president dies. However, this transition can only happen with the confirmation by the Supreme Leader. He is the one who holds ultimate authority in state matters.

Read this report to know more.

20 May 2024, 9:16 (IST)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had posted on X last night after news of the crash became known. He wrote, "Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage."

20 May 2024, 9:02 (IST)