Iran President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash
Highlights-
- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, state media confirms.
- Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also died in the crash, along with several other individuals.
- Bodies have been recovered from the crash site, says Red Crescent
- Raisi was en route to the city of Tabriz in north-western Iran after visiting the Iran-Azerbaijan border area, according to local media.
- Rescuers who reached the crash site in north-western Iran initially reported "no sign of life."
- The incident triggered a massive search operation that was hampered by adverse weather conditions.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official said on Monday, after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash," the senior Iranian official told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran's Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that "all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred".
An Iranian official earlier told Reuters the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was completely burned in the crash on Sunday.
State TV reported that images from the site showed the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.
State news agency IRNA said Raisi was flying in a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter.
7:06pm, May 20
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6.30pm, May 20
Putin calls interim president, stresses strong ties with Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned Iran's new interim president on Monday as Moscow made clear its desire to preserve and build on its deepening relationship with Tehran despite the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi, reports Reuters.
The Kremlin said Putin expressed his condolences to interim president Mohammad Mokhber and to the whole Iranian people over Raisi's death in a helicopter crash, describing Raisi as a "reliable partner who made an invaluable personal contribution" to bilateral relations.
"Both sides emphasised their mutual desire to further consistently strengthen comprehensive Russian-Iranian interaction for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries," the Kremlin said in its readout of the Putin-Mokhber call.
4.30pm, May 20
Hasina mourns death of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Iranian President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Dr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border.
"I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the sad demise of President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and members of the entourage in the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying them," she said.
2.40pm, May 20
Iran's Supreme Leader approves Mokhber as interim president, declares 5 days mourning
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Monday that First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is in charge of the executive branch and has a maximum period of 50 days to hold elections following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.
2.27pm, May 20
Ali Bagheri Kani appointed as Iran's acting foreign minister after Amirabdollahian's death
Iran's government cabinet appointed on Monday Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister following the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash.
1:55pm, May 20
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei expresses condolences
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed on Monday his condolences following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash which also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Reuters reported quoting Iranian state media.
1:39pm, May 20 (Bangladesh time)
Three branches of Iranian government hold 'extraordinary meeting'
Iran's three branches of government held an extraordinary meeting on Monday with First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber representing the executive branch , following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Reuters reported quoting Iran's Judiciary news agency Mizan.
12.45pm, May 20 (Bangladesh time)
Iranian Red Crescent says bodies recovered from Raisi helicopter crash site
The Iranian Red Crescent said Monday that the bodies of president Ebrahim Raisi and others who died in a helicopter crash had been recovered, and search operations had ended, AFP reported.
"We are in the process of transferring the bodies of the martyrs to Tabriz" in Iran's northwest, Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand told state TV, adding that "the search operations have come to an end."
11:43am, May 20 (Bangladesh time)
Reactions to death of Iran's president in helicopter crash
11:32am, May 20
Iran government says will operate 'without disruption' after Raisi death
The Iranian government will continue to operate "without the slightest disruption" following the death of president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, said a cabinet statement on Monday.
"We assure the loyal nation that the path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi," said the statement, stressing that government's work will continue "without the slightest disruption".
10:13am, May 20 (Bangladesh time)
Raisi took hard line with national protests and nuclear talks
Elected president in a closely controlled vote in 2021, Raisi took a tough stance in the nuclear negotiations, seeing a chance to win broad relief from US sanctions in return for only modest curbs on Iran's increasingly advanced technology.
Iran's hardliners had been emboldened by the chaotic US military withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan and policy swings in Washington.
9:10am, May 20
Iranian President Raisi feared dead as helicopter wreckage found
Hopes are fading that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister have survived a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official said on Monday after search teams located the wreckage.
"President Raisi's helicopter was completely burned in the crash ... unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead," the official told Reuters.
Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province in the early hours of Monday.
9:02am, May 20
Iran state TV says 'no sign' of life in president's helicopter
Iran's state television said Monday there was "no sign" of life among passengers of the helicopter which was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials, reports AFP.
"Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet," state TV reported.
8:34am, May 20
Helicopter of Iran's President Raisi found, situation 'not good': Red Crescent
The chief of Iran's Red Crescent said Monday that the missing helicopter which was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi had been found but the situation was "not good".
"The helicopter has been found. Now, we are moving toward the helicopter," said Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand, adding "the situation is not good."
8:42am, May 20
China 'deeply concerned' over Iran president's helicopter accident
China said on Monday it was "deeply concerned" after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter went missing in what Tehran's state media described as an accident, and pledged to help the rescue operation.
01:42am, May 20
What we know about Iranian president's helicopter 'accident'
Uncertainty hung over the fate of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi after state media said his helicopter had an accident on Sunday in poor weather in a western province.
Iran launched a large-scale search and rescue operation in the fog-shrouded mountain area of East Azerbaijan province.
Supreme leader Ali Khamenei said "the Iranian people should not worry" about the country and voiced hope Raisi and the others aboard would be found in good health.
01:31am, May 20
What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?
Rescuers in Iran were racing on Sunday to find the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi to find out the fate of all those on board. Below is brief outline of what Iran's constitution says happens if a president is incapacitated or dies in office:
According to article 131 of the Islamic Republic's constitution, if a president dies in office the first vice president takes over, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.
A council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary must arrange an election for a new president within a maximum period of 50 days.
8:26pm, May 19
Iran helicopter crash: Information coming from crash site concerning
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan, an Iranian official told Reuters.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were "at risk following the helicopter crash".
Disclaimer: Inputs are from Reuters and AFP
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