GUWAHATI: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan-Iran border, as reports confirmed Monday morning.
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According to the Iranian Constitution, if a president dies in office, the first vice president assumes the role, pending confirmation from the supreme leader. Iran operates under a dual political system where the supreme leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wields ultimate decision-making power over major policies. Elections for the new president must be held within 50 days. The responsibility for organising these elections falls to a council comprising the first vice president, the speaker of parliament, and the head of the judiciary.
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Raisi, 63, was reportedly returning from Azerbaijan accompanied by Iran's foreign minister and other officials when their helicopter crashed near the border on Sunday. Officials attributed the crash to bad weather, which also hampered rescue operations lasting over 12 hours. The state news agency reported that all passengers on board died.
Raisi's death comes at a turbulent time for Iran, which is grappling with significant political and economic challenges.
The government faces mounting international pressure due to its support for Hamas following the group's attack on Israel in October 2023 and its deepening military ties with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.