On a Sunday afternoon, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with a number of his representatives including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, were in a helicopter that crash-landed in a sequestered section of northwest Iran. The President was coming back from the Iranian Azerbaijan border, where he and the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, had inaugurated two dams.
The President’s chartered flight consisted of three helicopters, however, only a pair made a secure landing. After extensive searches and rescue procedures, it was officially confirmed on Monday morning by Iranian authorities that no survivors had been found from the helicopter crash. Harsh weather conditions are believed to have caused the incident.
Elected to the presidency in 2021, President Raisi held power during an election that saw the lowest voter turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic. He was associated with a conservative and rigorous clerical stance and was anticipated to succeed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei later in the year.
As the interim President Mohammad Mokhber steps up during the official five-day mourning period in Iran, many are left questioning the implications of Raisi’s demise on Iran’s future. The sudden vacuum in leadership could potentially have far-reaching effects across the Middle East, including the escalating strain between Iran and Israel.
Sorcha Pollak, a news presenter, converses with Sky News Middle East Correspondent, Alistair Bunkhall, about the passing of the man also known as the “Tehran’s butcher”. Bunkhall mentions that reactions to his death have been mixed, with many mourning his death while others celebrate. In Israel, the news has been received rather jovially. Sue Brennan and John Casey produced the coverage.