Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash
Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, has died in a helicopter crash, state media reported today.
The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, published a statement saying, "Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday."
The crash occurred in the city of Kerman, in southeastern Iran. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
Raisi, 63, had been president of Iran since August 2021. He was a hardline cleric who had served as chief justice of Iran before being elected president.
Amir-Abdollahian, 60, had been foreign minister of Iran since August 2021. He was a career diplomat who had previously served as deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs.
The deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian are a major blow to Iran's government. Raisi was the country's top leader, and Amir-Abdollahian was a key figure in Iran's foreign policy.
The crash is also a reminder of the dangers faced by Iranian leaders. In 1981, Iranian President Mohammad Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar were killed in a bomb blast at the prime minister's office.
The deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian are a major loss for Iran. They were both experienced leaders who were committed to serving their country.
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