Death of Iranian President Raisi in helicopter crash confirmed

Kathmandu: President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain have died in the helicopter crash.

The death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahain was confirmed by government media after the helicopter met with an accident in the mountainous protected forest area of Dizmar near the town of Varzagha.

Wreckage of Iranian President Raisi’s helicopter located; No sign of life

The helicopter of President Raisi crashed into the hilly areas on Sunday.  There were nine people in the helicopter.

Apart from President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, the imam for Friday prayers in the city of Tabriz, and General Malek Rahmati, the governor of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan also lost their life in the crash.

Sardar Seyed Mehdi Mousavi, the commander of the president’s protection unit, was also killed. The names of the several bodyguards and helicopter crew have not been revealed yet.

When the Iranian president is incapable of executing his duties due to death, illness, impeachment, and removal by parliament, there is a constitutional provision in the Islamic Republic for the Vice-President to handle the affairs.

Now, Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber will be running the affairs of the country and jointly with the heads of parliament. The judiciary oversees an election for a new president within a maximum of 50 days.

The election would be conducted after the confirmation of the supreme leader, regarding all matters of state in Iran.

Nepali version of the news