What at this point appears to be just a tragic accident occurred as the president and foreign minister were traveling back early Sunday morning from a ceremonial stop to celebrate beginning operations at a new dam built at the Iran-Azerbaijan border.
It was an important visit, one intended to shore up relations with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Iran has stood at odds with Azerbaijan’s foreign policies which included it having closer relations with Israel than the Tehran government wanted. The new dam, the third built on the countries’ mutual border on the Aras River, was jointly created as a sign the countries wished to work together despite significant differences.
Seven others including passengers and crew were also killed in the crash.
According to state media reports, the twin-bladed Bell 212 helicopter was on its way back from the visit along with two other helicopters carrying other governmental officials. The weather was foggy making it difficult to see clearly across the mountainous terrain near the border site. Despite that, the other two aircraft made it back safely and with no signs of problem.
Governmental officials’ first reports of the accident said they had lost contact with the president’s craft and it was missing.
An extensive search ensued with strong international support. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded almost immediately by sending two planes and helicopters to the region, along with 50 members of its military to join in the search. Türkiye provided an aerial drone which proved crucial in identifying the first sign of a heat signature suggesting where the crash happened. And the European Union offered access to advanced satellite imaging technology to assist viewing the possible crash area despite the dense fog.
Approximately 70 search teams working on the ground, including members of the Iranian military, its Revolutionary Guards Corp, and members of the Red Crescent humanitarian agency, aided by search dogs, eventually found the crash site hours later. There they found the charred but still recognizable bodies of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and the others.
The Iranian news reported after initial reports from the search teams were in that Raisi’s helicopter “hit the mountain and disintegrated” on impact, with “no signs of life” once it burst into flames.
The news also reported that transponders on the helicopter which would have aided in finding the wreckage sooner were either switched off or not functional.
A full investigation into what caused the crash is currently underway. It is being headed up by Major Gen Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s military forces.
Comments after Rashi’s death was confirmed came in as divisive, with allies of Iran expressing deep sympathy and its enemies mostly strong criticism of the former president.
From within Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sad the country had lost “a sincere and valuable servant.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said via a social media post on X yesterday that, “I wish Allah's mercy upon the Iranian foreign minister and other people who lost their lives in the same helicopter as Raisi.”
Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as an “outstanding politician” and declared his death an “irreplaceable loss.” He called Raisi “a great friend of Russia”.
In China, President Xi expressed his sympathy with the nation of Iran over the death of its president. He issued a statement praising Raisi for having improved the country’s security and for emphasizing actions targeting improving the country’s economy and overall prosperity.
Despite many strong differences with Raisi, EU Foreign Policy Head Josep Borrell issued a statement of his own calling the accident “tragic” as he expressed condolences to the nation and the families of all who died from the crash.
Hamas also issued a formal statement regarding the death of Raisi.
“We express our shared feelings of grief and sorrow with the brotherly Iranian people and our full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in this painful incident,” the group said in a post distributed on X by the Quds News Network.
Hamas went on to praise Raisi for "supporting our Palestinian cause, backing our people's legitimate struggle."
From the United Kingdom, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat attacked the fallen leader, saying in a post on X that “President Raisi’s regime has murdered thousands at home, and targeted people here in Britain and across Europe. I will not mourn him.”
The official U.S. response was initially less combative than Tugendhat’s.
“The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran,” a statement released by the U.S. State Department said. “As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
A later statement issued from the White House took on a stronger tact than that, calling Raisi a “brutal participant in the oppression of the Iranian people" who had "blood on his hands”.
Prior to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the morning of May 20, local time, the UNSC members stood for a minute of silence in respect to Raisi's death.
A state funeral for Raisi and those who traveled with him will be held at 9:30 AM in Tabriz, Iran.
Supreme leader Khamenei has declared a five-day period of national mourning this week.
Mohammad Mokhber, who held the position of first vice-president under Raisi, was appointed acting president of the country for now. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed the new Foreign Minister.
Raisi’s death happened at a difficult time for Iran and many issues involving Israel, Gaza, and the Palestinian people. While it is expected the new temporary leadership will follow his policies and lead, it is unclear how the loss of Raisi and the foreign minister could affect important near-term decisions regarding the support of Hamas and Israel’s war against it and the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Iran has scheduled a formal election for a new president on June 28.