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Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister killed in helicopter crash

Updated 7 minutes ago

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Chosen by us to get you up to speed at a glance6:52amCrash victims’ bodies to be taken to Tabriz 5:37amIranian president, foreign minister and all passengers dead, says state media 4:15am‘No sign’ of life at crash site 3:21amBreaking: President’s helicopter found

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and all other passengers have died in the helicopter crash in northwest Iran.

Executive Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed the news of the 63-year-old president’s death on Monday morning, describing him as a “beacon of hope”.

“On behalf of myself and other members of the government, I offer my condolences to the Supreme Leader, the Leader of the Revolution, and the people for the tragic loss of Ayatollah Raisi and his companions, who have attained martyrdom,” he said.

The helicopter crashed on Sunday while crossing mountainous terrain in heavy fog. The accident sparked a large-scale search that lasted more than 12 hours until the wreckage was found this morning.

Follow the latest updates below.

Akhtar Makoii ; Chanel Zagon, DEPUTY OVERNIGHT EDITOR and Jörg Luyken

20 May 2024 • 7:47am

7:43AM

Iran must now name a new foreign minister

With the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Iranian government must now name a new foreign minister, writes Akhtar Makoii.

According to Article 135 of Iran’s constitution, in the absence of a minister, the president has the authority to select and nominate an individual to lead the ministry for a maximum period of three months.

If supreme leader Ali Khamenei approves Ebrahim Raisi’s Vice President, Mohammad Mokhbar, he will assume the role of interim president of Iran.

He will hold this position for 50 days, according to Article 131 of the constitution.

7:08AM

Pakistan to observe day of mourning

Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s prime minister extended deepest condolences to “Brotherly Iran” on behalf of himself and the Pakistani people and government.

“The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” Mr Sharif said.

6:52AM

Crash victims’ bodies to be taken to Tabriz

The bodies of all the crash victims will be moved to Tabriz, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent has said.

“The search operation has ended, and the bodies of the martyrs are being transferred with ambulances to Tabriz,” Pirhossein Kolivand told state TV.

Tabriz is the closest large city to the crash site and was the intended destination of the helicopter convoy.

6:42AM

India’s Modi ‘deeply saddened and shocked’ by Raisi’s death

Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, has said he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran,” Mr Modi said. “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”

India and Iran have had historically close relations, with the Islamic Republic being a key oil supplier to the South Asian giant, which is now the world’s fifth-biggest economy, for many years until US sanctions curtailed the trade.

New Delhi has sought to balance its ties with Tehran with its links to Washington as well as its warming relationship with Israel.

6:19AM

Executive Vice President offers his condolences

Executive Vice President Mohsen Mansouri said: “On behalf of myself and other members of the government, I offer my condolences to the Supreme Leader, the Leader of the Revolution, and the people for the tragic loss of Ayatollah Raisi and his companions, who have attained martyrdom.

“Ayatollah Raisi was our beacon of hope, a man of jihad, struggle, and tireless work.

“At one o’clock, his flight from the Qiz Qala Si Dam to Tabriz disappeared from the radar screen due to fog and the inaccessibility and special conditions of the region.

“The rescue teams’ efforts were initially unsuccessful. At 5:30 in the morning, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered at the bottom of a valley.”

6:00AM

Iran’s cabinet holds emergency meeting

Iran’s cabinet is currently holding an emergency meeting following the news of the president’s death.

According to Article 131 of the Iranian constitution, in the event of the President’s death, his first deputy, with the approval of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, assumes powers and responsibilities of the presidency.

Additionally, a council consisting of the Speaker of the Parliament, the Head of the Judiciary, and the First Vice President must make arrangements for a new president to be elected within 50 days.

5:37AM

Iranian president, foreign minister and all passengers dead, says state media

Iranian state media has confirmed that Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and all passengers have died in the helicopter crash.

5:06AM

Breaking: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died, reports Mehr

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister have died, Iran’s Mehr news agency and numerous others have reported.

4:15AM

‘No sign’ of life at crash site

Iran’s state TV said on Monday there was “no sign” of life at the helicopter crash.

“Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet,” state TV reported.

“Upon discovering the location of the crashed helicopter, no signs of the helicopter’s occupants being alive were observed,” Iran’s Crescent Society chief added.

The Iranian government has not yet released an official statement.

3:48AM

Conditions of leaders and passengers still unknown

Commander of the Ashura Corps of the IRGC said: “At the moment, nothing can be confirmed about the fate of the helicopter and its passengers.

“We will reach the helicopter in a few minutes.”

Meanwhile, a state TV presenter said: “We are not hearing good news.”

3:40AM

First footage from the moment the helicopter was found

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3:32AM

‘Situation is not good’, says Iran Red Crescent Society chief

The conditions of the president and foreign minister are still unknown, but Iran’s Red Crescent Society chief said “the situation is not good”.

“Let us reach it. The situation is not good,” the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society told state TV when asked about the condition of the helicopter.

3:21AM

Breaking: Helicopter found

The helicopter has been found and teams are heading towards the area.

“We found the helicopter. We are 2kms away. I can see it,” the head of Iran’s emergency said.

3:20AM

Breaking: Rescue crews reach crash site

Rescue teams have now reportedly reached the helicopter crash site.

We will keep bringing you the latest developments.

3:17AM

Pictured: Brutal conditions for rescuers

Footage from the Turkish drone Akinci shows the type of mountainous terrain and foggy conditions that rescue teams are up against.

Thick fog blankets the search area and while morning has broken, visibility is still an issue.

3:10AM

Pictured: ‘Heat source’ detected by Turkish drone that indicates suspected crash site

Footage captured by the drone Akinci shows the 'heat source' detected — Footage captured by the drone Akinci shows the ‘heat source’ detected CREDIT: Anadolu

3:07AM

China ‘deeply concerned’ about crash

China said on Monday it was “deeply concerned” about the helicopter crash.

“The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the hard landing of the helicopter in which President Raisi was travelling, and we wish President Raisi and the crew on board (are) safe and sound,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted Beijing’s foreign ministry as saying.

It added that China would “provide all necessary support and assistance to the Iranian side in its rescue efforts”.

2:58AM

People reach coordinates of ‘heat source’ but find no sign of helicopter

Ordinary people in the area have reached the coordinates provided by the Turkish drone and have reported no signs of the helicopter, Fars news agency reported.

Search and rescue teams are struggling to reach the area.

As of now, there’s no update regarding the arrival of the official rescue teams at the specified coordinates.

Morning has broken, bringing improved visibility to rescue teams.

2:57AM

Russian rescue teams leave for Tabriz

The first Russian rescue aircraft has departed for Tabriz to help in the search for the helicopter.

An advisor to Putin announced earlier the dispatch of two planes with special helicopters, as well as 50 professional mountain rescuers whom are set to arrive in Tabriz in the next few hours.

2:30AM

Rescue teams head towards the ‘heat source’

Following the detection of two heat sources by a Turkish drone in Tawal village, Iran’s Red Crescent rescue teams are now heading towards the “possible landing site of the helicopter carrying the president and his team”.

“Currently, a total of 73 rescue teams are deployed in the search area,” Iran’s Red Crescent said.

“Among them, 23 teams belong to the Red Crescent, equipped with detector dogs and advanced equipment, dispatched from Tehran and neighbouring provinces.

“Despite the challenging weather conditions with fog and rain, the search operation continues unabated.”

An ambulance and other vehicles drive on a foggy road as the search to find the crash site continues CREDIT: Reuters

2:11AM

Authorities release drone footage of fire

Turkish authorities have released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they “suspected to be wreckage of helicopter”.

Iranian rescuers have rushed to the site, state TV reported. The coordinates listed in the footage put the fire some 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border.

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2:02AM