Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the mountains northwest of the country, near the borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and the Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati disappeared in dense fog on Sunday (May 21). Media reports stated that Raisi was returning to Tehran after attending an event with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

What will happen in Iran now?

Search and rescue teams, working in rain and fog, located the wreckage overnight. Photos from the crash site show almost nothing of the aircraft except for part of its tail.

Officials made the announcement of the death from the podium of the revered mausoleum of Imam Reza in the President’s hometown of Mashhad. The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, reported that Raisi had been “martyred in the line of service.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted his condolences on X, expressing that India stands with Iran during this tragedy.

According to Iran’s Constitution, the First Vice President assumes the presidency if the President dies or is incapacitated. Mohammad Mokhber, appointed by President Raisi to this position in August 2021 shortly after taking office, will take over the role.

Several appointed Vice Presidents serve in the Iranian Cabinet, with the office of the First Vice President considered first among equals. Mohammad Mokhber will serve as President until a presidential election is held within the next 50 days.

Al Jazeera reported that First Vice President Mokhber previously served for 14 years as head of Setad, a powerful economic conglomerate operating directly under Iran’s Supreme Leader. During his tenure, Setad developed Iran’s coronavirus vaccine, Coviran Barekat, though its safety and efficacy were questioned.

President Raisi, 63, a hardline cleric, was seen as the likely successor to Iran’s octogenarian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During his three years in power, President Raisi worked to expand Iran’s influence in the Middle East by backing armed groups in several regional countries and accelerating Iran’s nuclear programme after the United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the deal that western powers had struck with Tehran.

Also Read: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dead In Helicopter Crash