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Reformer Massoud Pezeshkian elected Iran's president [Post Updated #132]

Sources says President Raisi chopper "not found."

Massive rescue efforts to find the helicopter.

Tehran Times
 
Four officials who were in the helicopter:

- President Raisi
- Ayatollah Al-Hashem of East Azerbaijan, the Friday Prayer Leader of Tabriz
- Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Foreign Minister
- Malek Rahmati, the Governor of East Azerbaijan province

Tehran Times
 
Well I hope those constantly braying for regime change in Iran are happy now.

Seems like they were flying in bad weather. Hopefully it isn't as serious as thought.
 
What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

Rescuers in Iran were racing on Sunday to find the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi to find out the fate of all those on board. Below is brief outline of what Iran's constitution says happens if a president is incapacitated or dies in office:

* According to article 131 of the Islamic Republic's constitution, if a president dies in office the first vice president takes over, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.

* A council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary must arrange a election for a new president within a maximum period of 50 days.

Raisi was elected president in 2021 and, under the current timetable, presidential elections are due to take place in 2025.



Reuters
 
Israel behind it? If the President is a gonner, then things in the region will get even more intense
 
Asad T said:
Israel behind it? If the President is a gonner, then things in the region will get even more intense
Click to expand...
There should indeed be an inquiry over this. If Israel is involved, it could ignite a hellfire in the Middle East. Praying for the safety of all people on board.
 
Israel has officially denied any involvement in the incident.
 
“If we find evidence that Israel is involved in helicopter crash of President of Iran, we will respond beyond imagination of Israel and its allies” - Iran's Supreme Leader.
 
Russia plans to send special aircraft and 50 professional mountain rescuers to the site in northern Iran where a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed Sunday, according to the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

Two special Russian helicopters will be sent to the crash site from Armenia, according to IRNA, which reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the move.
 
Iran state TV says there is "no sign of life" at the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
 
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies with other occupants of helicopter

Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, along with others who were on board the helicopter that crashed, have died, multiple Iranian news agencies have confirmed.

Al Jazeera
 
FearlessRoar said:
There should indeed be an inquiry over this. If Israel is involved, it could ignite a hellfire in the Middle East. Praying for the safety of all people on board.
Click to expand...
Nothing will happen immediately or Iran will walk into a trap. They're short of reliable allies.
 

Helicopter ‘completely burned’​


When we look at the wreckage of the helicopter, the chances of anyone surviving in such an accident are quite slim. We see that the whole cabin of the helicopter is completely burned.

Iranian authorities are also saying that some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, and that they have not been able to identify who is who at the site.

Al Jazeera
 
FearlessRoar said:
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies with other occupants of helicopter

Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, along with others who were on board the helicopter that crashed, have died, multiple Iranian news agencies have confirmed.

Al Jazeera
Click to expand...

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash​


Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner long seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.

The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.

"President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash," a senior Iranian official told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Raisi's death was later confirmed in a statement on social media by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and on state television.
State TV reported that images from the site showed the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.

State news agency IRNA said Raisi was flying in a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter.

Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme, had earlier sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.

Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in the early hours of Monday.

“With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter's passengers,” the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, told state TV.

Earlier, the national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.

Video showed a rescue team, wearing bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot in a blizzard.

Several countries had expressed concern and offered assistance.

The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. China said it was deeply concerned. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.

The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran's clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.

Since Iran's ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, provoking Israel's assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.

In Iran's dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi's 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who holds decision-making power on all major policies.

For years many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi's main policies.

Raisi's victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with powers including Washington.

However, Raisi's standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran's economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.

Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a "friendly farewell" to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue.

 

Who is Mohammad Mokhber, the man set to become Iran’s interim president?​


Here are some key facts about Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran’s first vice president who, based on the country’s constitution, is expected to become interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

As interim president, Mokhber is part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organise a new presidential election within 50 days of the president’s death.

Born on Sept. 1, 1955, Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.

Mokhber was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia’s military, sources told Reuters at the time. The team also included two senior officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council.

Mokhber had previously been head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader.

In 2010, the European Union included Mokhber on a list of individuals and entities it was sanctioning for alleged involvement in “nuclear or ballistic missile activities”. Two years later, it removed him from the list.

In 2013, the US Treasury Department added Setad and 37 companies it oversaw to a list of sanctioned entities.

Setad, whose full name is Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam, or the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was set up under an order issued by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It ordered aides to sell and manage properties supposedly abandoned in the chaotic years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and channel the bulk of the proceeds to charity.

 
Israel carried out few attacks on Iran but they r all bang on target… this is why Mosad is world no.1…. This accident should be thoroughly investigated…

When Hammas commander killed by Mosad in dubai. Initially Dubai government was saying commander have a natural death, but after few months thorough investigations revealed Mosad killed Hamas commander
 
RIP. Very sad. Should be fully investigated…
 

Iran's Jewish community expresses 'deep sorrow' over the passing of President Raisi​


The Tehran Jewish Association extended its deepest condolences upon the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, following a helicopter crash that stunned the nation.

"Condolences on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, the compassionate and dedicated president of the Iranian nation," announced the public relations of the Tehran Jewish Association. The group expressed "a heart full of sorrow and eyes brimming with tears," recognizing the significant loss of a leader revered for his service and humility.

The tragic incident occurred this past Sunday when President Raisi's helicopter was forced to make a "hard landing" due to severe fog in the East Azerbaijan region. Despite immediate rescue efforts involving over 40 teams, the president succumbed to his injuries, leading to a national outpouring of grief.

The Association's statement highlighted what they see as Raisi's lasting impact, noting, "Undoubtedly, the history of Iran will never forget the memory of the humble president and martyr of the path of service."

The Jewish community, along with all Iranians, mourns "the sudden loss of its president and other dedicated servants who achieved the honor of martyrdom alongside him," praying for the "elevation of the esteemed martyrs of this land."

The mourning period has brought together Iranians from all walks of life, illustrating the unity among diverse communities within the country during times of national crisis. The Tehran Jewish Association has also invited members and sympathizers to join their communication channel for support and updates during this period of shared national mourning.

Amidst the profound grief and significant national reflection following the death of President Raisi, his contentious statements regarding Israel and the Holocaust also resurface, adding complexity to his legacy. Previously, Raisi had faced international criticism for suggesting that the Holocaust required more research, which many viewed as a form of denial. His administration's stance on Israel was marked by hostility, including threats to its existence and aggressive rhetoric that often heightened tensions between Iran and the Jewish state.

These controversial views had significantly impacted the diplomatic landscape, influencing Iran's relationships not only with Israel but also with Western nations. Raisi's rhetoric and policies often evoked strong responses from global Jewish communities and international leaders, which shaped his presidency's international narrative.

Iran's Jewish community, one of the oldest in the world, traces its roots back over 2,700 years to the Babylonian exile. Despite facing various challenges over the centuries, the community has maintained a distinct cultural and religious identity. Today, Iran's Jews, numbering around 8,500, are primarily concentrated in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. They enjoy certain protections under the Islamic Republic's constitution, which recognizes them as an official religious minority.

The attitude of Iran's Jewish community towards Zionism and Israel is complex and often cautious due to the political environment in which they live. Officially, the community distances itself from Zionism and the state of Israel to avoid repercussions from the Iranian government, which is staunchly anti-Zionist and hostile towards Israel. Many Iranian Jews publicly emphasize their loyalty to Iran and their distinction from the political issues surrounding Israel.

Privately, opinions within the community may vary, with some expressing personal connections to Israel due to familial ties or religious sentiments. However, public expressions of support for Zionism or Israel are rare and carefully managed to avoid endangering the community. This delicate balance reflects the community's need to navigate their minority status in a politically sensitive environment.

www.jpost.com

Iran's Jewish community expresses 'deep sorrow' over the passing of President Raisi

Privately, opinions within the community may vary, with some expressing personal connections to Israel due to familial ties or religious sentiments.
www.jpost.com www.jpost.com
 
Sad news. Whatever you think of the Iranian leadership, nobody deserves this.

Allegations of an Israeli hand though seems like a reach. Why were they travelling in such thick fog ?

1000011346.jpg
 
As Iran Mourns President, A Look At Other Politicians Killed In Air Crashes
Here is a look back to 10 other aircraft disasters in which political leaders were killed.

1. Arvid Lindman, Prime Minister Of Sweden (1936)​

Salomon Arvid Achates Lindman, a Swedish rear admiral and two-time Prime Minister of Sweden, was an influential conservative politician. On December 9, 1936, Lindman died in a tragic accident when the Douglas DC-2 he was aboard crashed into houses near Croydon Airport in the United Kingdom, shortly after takeoff in thick fog.

2. Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines (1957)​

Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines, was known for his strong anti-corruption stance and populist appeal. His presidency was abruptly ended on March 17, 1957, when his plane, a C-47 dubbed "Mt. Pinatubo," crashed into Mount Manunggal in the city of Cebu. Of the 25 passengers, only one survived.

3. Nereu Ramos, President of Brazil (1958)​

Nereu Ramos, who briefly served as interim president of Brazil, died on June 16, 1958. Ramos was travelling on a Cruzeiro do Sul airliner when it crashed near Curitiba Afonso Pena International Airport in the state of Parana.

4. Abdul Salam Arif, President of Iraq (1966)​

Abdul Salam Arif, the second President of Iraq, played a crucial role in the 1958 revolution that overthrew the monarchy. On April 13, 1966, Arif died when his Iraqi Air Force plane, a de Havilland DH.104 Dove, crashed near Basra. His brother, Abdul Rahman Arif, succeeded him as president.

5. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, President of Brazil (1967)​

Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, the 26th President of Brazil and a key figure in the former military dictatorship, died on July 18, 1967. Shortly after his presidency ended, Castelo Branco's Piper PA-23 Aztec collided mid-air with a Brazilian Air Force Lockheed T-33, leading to his death. His passing was shrouded in controversy and conspiracy theories.

6. Sanjay Gandhi, Indian politician and Congress leader (1980)​

Sanjay Gandhi, son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, died on June 23, 1980. Sanjay's life was cut short when he lost control of his aircraft at Delhi's Safdarjung airport.

7. Rashid Karami, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1987)​

Rashid Karami, Lebanon's most frequently elected Prime Minister, was a prominent figure during the Lebanese Civil War. On June 1, 1987, a bomb exploded in his helicopter en route to Beirut, killing Karami and wounding several others on board.

8. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, President of Pakistan (1988)​

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the sixth President of Pakistan, died on August 17, 1988. His C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Bahawalpur. The cause of the crash remains mysterious, with theories ranging from mechanical failure to sabotage.

9. Madhavrao Scindia, Indian Politician and Congress leader (2001)​

Madhavrao Scindia, a prominent Indian politician and member of the Congress, died in a plane crash on September 30, 2001. The crash occurred near Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, when his private Beechcraft King Air C90 caught fire mid-air.

10. Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile (2024)​

Sebastian Pimera, the former President of Chile, died in February 2024. Pinera's helicopter crashed into a lake in southern Chile, resulting in his death. He was a significant figure in Chilean politics, having served two non-consecutive terms as president.

www.ndtv.com

As Iran Mourns President, A Look At Other Politicians Killed In Air Crashes

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi died following a helicopter crash in a mountainous region of the country last night.
www.ndtv.com www.ndtv.com
 
FearlessRoar said:
As Iran Mourns President, A Look At Other Politicians Killed In Air Crashes
Here is a look back to 10 other aircraft disasters in which political leaders were killed.

1. Arvid Lindman, Prime Minister Of Sweden (1936)​

Salomon Arvid Achates Lindman, a Swedish rear admiral and two-time Prime Minister of Sweden, was an influential conservative politician. On December 9, 1936, Lindman died in a tragic accident when the Douglas DC-2 he was aboard crashed into houses near Croydon Airport in the United Kingdom, shortly after takeoff in thick fog.

2. Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines (1957)​

Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines, was known for his strong anti-corruption stance and populist appeal. His presidency was abruptly ended on March 17, 1957, when his plane, a C-47 dubbed "Mt. Pinatubo," crashed into Mount Manunggal in the city of Cebu. Of the 25 passengers, only one survived.

3. Nereu Ramos, President of Brazil (1958)​

Nereu Ramos, who briefly served as interim president of Brazil, died on June 16, 1958. Ramos was travelling on a Cruzeiro do Sul airliner when it crashed near Curitiba Afonso Pena International Airport in the state of Parana.

4. Abdul Salam Arif, President of Iraq (1966)​

Abdul Salam Arif, the second President of Iraq, played a crucial role in the 1958 revolution that overthrew the monarchy. On April 13, 1966, Arif died when his Iraqi Air Force plane, a de Havilland DH.104 Dove, crashed near Basra. His brother, Abdul Rahman Arif, succeeded him as president.

5. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, President of Brazil (1967)​

Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, the 26th President of Brazil and a key figure in the former military dictatorship, died on July 18, 1967. Shortly after his presidency ended, Castelo Branco's Piper PA-23 Aztec collided mid-air with a Brazilian Air Force Lockheed T-33, leading to his death. His passing was shrouded in controversy and conspiracy theories.

6. Sanjay Gandhi, Indian politician and Congress leader (1980)​

Sanjay Gandhi, son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, died on June 23, 1980. Sanjay's life was cut short when he lost control of his aircraft at Delhi's Safdarjung airport.

7. Rashid Karami, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1987)​

Rashid Karami, Lebanon's most frequently elected Prime Minister, was a prominent figure during the Lebanese Civil War. On June 1, 1987, a bomb exploded in his helicopter en route to Beirut, killing Karami and wounding several others on board.

8. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, President of Pakistan (1988)​

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the sixth President of Pakistan, died on August 17, 1988. His C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Bahawalpur. The cause of the crash remains mysterious, with theories ranging from mechanical failure to sabotage.

9. Madhavrao Scindia, Indian Politician and Congress leader (2001)​

Madhavrao Scindia, a prominent Indian politician and member of the Congress, died in a plane crash on September 30, 2001. The crash occurred near Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, when his private Beechcraft King Air C90 caught fire mid-air.

10. Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile (2024)​

Sebastian Pimera, the former President of Chile, died in February 2024. Pinera's helicopter crashed into a lake in southern Chile, resulting in his death. He was a significant figure in Chilean politics, having served two non-consecutive terms as president.

www.ndtv.com

As Iran Mourns President, A Look At Other Politicians Killed In Air Crashes

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi died following a helicopter crash in a mountainous region of the country last night.
www.ndtv.com www.ndtv.com
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Sanjay Gandhi and Madhavrao scindia’s death not thoroughly investigated….. lots of
criticism against congress party after these air crashes
 
globetrotter said:
Sanjay Gandhi and Madhavrao scindia’s death not thoroughly investigated….. lots of
criticism against congress party after these air crashes
Click to expand...
He was the original uncrowned Prince of India. That's the title he was bestowed with.
 
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning following the martyrdom of President Raisi and his entourage.

Tehran Times
 

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash​


The Iranian nation has faced great events in these 45 years, and according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, they will overcome this tragic event, Zarif said on Monday.

He offered condolences over the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s bodyguard team.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s war of aggression against Iran, the martyrdom of 72 of Imam Khomeini’s companions, the martyrdom of popular president Mohammad-Ali Rajaee, and the cruel sanctions against Iran were part of the difficult conditions that the Islamic Republic successfully overcame, he added.

One of the causes of this heartbreaking incident is the United States, which by sanctioning the sale of the aviation industry to Iran caused the martyrdom of the president and his companions, and the US’s crime will be recorded in the minds of the Iranian people and history, Zarif said.

With national solidarity and unity, the people showed that they are vigilant and will stand by each other in difficult situations for a better tomorrow, he noted.

en.irna.ir

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash

Tehran, IRNA – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held the US responsible for the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage because of its sanctions on the country’s aviation industry.
en.irna.ir en.irna.ir
 
FearlessRoar said:

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash​


The Iranian nation has faced great events in these 45 years, and according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, they will overcome this tragic event, Zarif said on Monday.

He offered condolences over the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s bodyguard team.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s war of aggression against Iran, the martyrdom of 72 of Imam Khomeini’s companions, the martyrdom of popular president Mohammad-Ali Rajaee, and the cruel sanctions against Iran were part of the difficult conditions that the Islamic Republic successfully overcame, he added.

One of the causes of this heartbreaking incident is the United States, which by sanctioning the sale of the aviation industry to Iran caused the martyrdom of the president and his companions, and the US’s crime will be recorded in the minds of the Iranian people and history, Zarif said.

With national solidarity and unity, the people showed that they are vigilant and will stand by each other in difficult situations for a better tomorrow, he noted.

en.irna.ir

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash

Tehran, IRNA – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held the US responsible for the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage because of its sanctions on the country’s aviation industry.
en.irna.ir en.irna.ir
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This makes sense and is a very valid point, but Iran can buy the latest helicopters from Russia and China
 
Iran at pains to say crash due to bad weather, could this simply be a local regime change?
 
'Good friends of Pakistan'

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif says his country will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect for Raisi and his companions.
 
FearlessRoar said:

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash​


The Iranian nation has faced great events in these 45 years, and according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, they will overcome this tragic event, Zarif said on Monday.

He offered condolences over the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor Malek Rahmati, and Mehdi Mousavi, the head of Raisi’s bodyguard team.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s war of aggression against Iran, the martyrdom of 72 of Imam Khomeini’s companions, the martyrdom of popular president Mohammad-Ali Rajaee, and the cruel sanctions against Iran were part of the difficult conditions that the Islamic Republic successfully overcame, he added.

One of the causes of this heartbreaking incident is the United States, which by sanctioning the sale of the aviation industry to Iran caused the martyrdom of the president and his companions, and the US’s crime will be recorded in the minds of the Iranian people and history, Zarif said.

With national solidarity and unity, the people showed that they are vigilant and will stand by each other in difficult situations for a better tomorrow, he noted.

en.irna.ir

Ex-FM Zarif: US sanctions responsible for deadly copter crash

Tehran, IRNA – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held the US responsible for the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage because of its sanctions on the country’s aviation industry.
en.irna.ir en.irna.ir
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Sorry this is just a dumb take by the Iranians.

It's not like America forced them to use the chopper.
 
Leader of Yemen Ansarullah Abdul-Malik al-Houthi in a message expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi, FM Hossein Amirabdollahian and their entourage to Supreme Leader and the people of Iran.

IRNA
 
Lebanon's Hezbollah: President Raisi was the great hope for all the oppressed in the world.

We offer our condolences to the 12th Shia Imam (AS), Ayatollah Khamenei, the patient nation of #Iran, and all Muslims and freedom-seekers of the world for this loss.

IRNA
 
Hitman said:
The question is why did they fly in such terrible weather?
Click to expand...
No idea but whoever made that decision has blood on their hands.

The pictures are ridiculous - there's barely any visibility and they're carrying the nation's President and Foreign Minister.
 
Markhor said:
No idea but whoever made that decision has blood on their hands.

The pictures are ridiculous - there's barely any visibility and they're carrying the nation's President and Foreign Minister.
Click to expand...
Exactly! By all reports we are hearing, the weather was absolutely horrendous. And yet they gave the green signal to fly. And this is not some random Tom, Dick, or Harry. This was their President in question.

Absolutely ridiculous!
 
Hitman said:
Exactly! By all reports we are hearing, the weather was absolutely horrendous. And yet they gave the green signal to fly. And this is not some random Tom, Dick, or Harry. This was their President in question.

Absolutely ridiculous!
Click to expand...
It’s look like planned killing… but truth will never come out
 
globetrotter said:
It’s look like planned killing… but truth will never come out
Click to expand...
I do think the truth will come out, whether it was an accident or sabotage. It's Iran we are taking about, not Afghanistan or Somalia. Iran will not rest until they make sure it was not an sabotage.
 
FearlessRoar said:

Who is Mohammad Mokhber, the man set to become Iran’s interim president?​


Here are some key facts about Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran’s first vice president who, based on the country’s constitution, is expected to become interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

As interim president, Mokhber is part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organise a new presidential election within 50 days of the president’s death.

Born on Sept. 1, 1955, Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.

Mokhber was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia’s military, sources told Reuters at the time. The team also included two senior officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council.

Mokhber had previously been head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader.

In 2010, the European Union included Mokhber on a list of individuals and entities it was sanctioning for alleged involvement in “nuclear or ballistic missile activities”. Two years later, it removed him from the list.

In 2013, the US Treasury Department added Setad and 37 companies it oversaw to a list of sanctioned entities.

Setad, whose full name is Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam, or the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was set up under an order issued by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It ordered aides to sell and manage properties supposedly abandoned in the chaotic years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and channel the bulk of the proceeds to charity.

Click to expand...
First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been named as Iran's interim president until new elections are held within 50 days

Mokhber was once under sanctions by the E.U. for alleged involvement in "nuclear or ballistic missile activities."

He also headed an investment fund that was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.

NBC News
 
Looks like a regime change like @ Miggy said above.

Does this mean Iran can go back to like how it was in the late 60s and 70s? A progressive democracy instead of what it is now.
 

‘Esteemed statesmen’: World mourns loss of Iran president, FM in ‘tragic’ air crash​

As Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, were on Monday confirmed to be dead after their helicopter crashed last night, condolences began pouring in from across the world.

The charred wreckage of the helicopter, carrying a total of nine people as per Iranian media, was found earlier today after an overnight search in blizzard conditions in mountainous terrain near Iran’s Azerbaijan border.

The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran’s clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, provoking Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.

Here is how countries across the world — with the Middle East predominant — reacted to the confirmation of the Iranian top leaders’ deaths.

Pakistan, South Asia
President Asif Ali Zardari “expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic death” of his Iranian counterpart.

In a statement issued by the president’s office, Zardari said: “Today, Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend. Just last month, we had the honour of hosting him in Pakistan. During our discussions, I found him very keen on strengthening our bilateral relations.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, extending his deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation, said Pakistan would observe a day of mourning and the flag would fly at half-mast.

Recalling Raisi’s and the foreign minister’s “historic visit” to the country last month, he said: “They were good friends of Pakistan.”

Deputy PM Ishaq Dar — also the foreign minister — said he was “truly aggrieved” about Raisi’s death and “deeply saddened to know about the martyrdom of my friend and brother” FM Amirabdollahian.

In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said the government and the Pakistani people were “deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the martyrdom” of Raisi and FM Amirabdollahian, calling them “esteemed leaders and statesmen”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of Raisi.

“His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” he said in a post on X.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe also joined in offering condolences.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of President Raisi and his entourage,” he said in a post on X.

The Gulf
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates, which has mended ties with Tehran after years of rift, “stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time”, said Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident,” Sheikh Mohammed posted on X.

UAE PM Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Our hearts are with you in this difficult time. Our prayers are that God will cover them with His vast mercy and dwell them in His spacious Paradise.”

In a statement on X, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, called the news “painful”, expressing his “sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have long had strained ties with Iran because of its nuclear program and support for armed groups across the region, but they have mended relations in recent times.

In a dramatic shift, China brokered an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023 to restore diplomatic ties after a seven-year rupture. In June, Amir-Abdollahian visited the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman as part of a regional tour aimed at consolidating Tehran’s Gulf ties.

Middle East
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in a statement, said, “We pray to God to shower them with mercy and forgiveness and to inspire their families with patience and solace.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also extended his condolences, praying for the deceased and their families.

In a statement, Sisi expressed the solidarity of Egypt with the “Iranian leadership and people in this terrible incident”.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said, “As a colleague who personally witnessed his efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in power, I remember Mr Raisi with respect and gratitude.”

“As Turkiye, we will stand by our neighbour Iran in these difficult and sad times, as we have done many times,” the president said in a post on X.

Source: Dawn News
 
Romali_rotti said:
Looks like a regime change like @ Miggy said above.

Does this mean Iran can go back to like how it was in the late 60s and 70s? A progressive democracy instead of what it is now.
Click to expand...

As long as Iran doesn’t use India as an example of a progressive democracy which is run by extremists , it will be ok .
 
Asad T said:
obvsiouly, they would never admit to anything
Click to expand...
Put the conspiracy theories to rest.

There were Muslims all over social media claiming that Oct 7th attacks of Hamas was also inside job. They defended that for many weeks before they gave up. I remember a few posters also said the same here too.
 
Romali_rotti said:
Looks like a regime change like @ Miggy said above.

Does this mean Iran can go back to like how it was in the late 60s and 70s? A progressive democracy instead of what it is now.
Click to expand...
I'm no fan of theocratic regimes but Iran was not a democracy by any definition in the 60s and 70s. It was an authoritarian state under the Shah with the odd sham elections.

Raisi's death is unlikely to significantly change Iran's domestic and foreign policies as the Presidenct of Iran holds limited authority. The real power rests with their Supreme Leader and military/IRGC. Raisi was basically his mouthpiece.

What I didn't realise until this piece in The Atlantic was that Raisi was being groomed as Ayatollah Khamenei's successor. Now those plans are burnt in the wreckage too.

www.theatlantic.com

Who Would Benefit From Ebrahim Raisi’s Death?

If the Iranian president turns out to have lost his life in a helicopter crash, it will set off a fierce scramble for power.
www.theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com

Accidents happen everywhere, but not all accidents are equal. Many hours after initial news broke about an “incident” involving a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s state media has still not confirmed whether he is dead or alive. Various state outlets have published contradictory news—Was Raisi seen on video link after the accident? Was he not? Was the National Security Council meeting? Was it not?—signaling chaos and panic. A source in Tehran close to the presidency told me that Raisi has been confirmed dead, and that the authorities are looking for a way to report the news without causing mayhem. I have not been able to independently confirm this.

Iran doesn’t seem like a country in which presidents die by accident. But it also is a country in which aircraft crash, due to the sorry state of infrastructure in the internationally isolated Islamic Republic. In previous years, at least two cabinet ministers and two leading military commanders have died in similar crashes. Raisi’s chopper, which also carried Iran’s foreign minister and two top regional officials, was passing through an infamously foggy and mountainous area in northwestern Iran. The “incident” might very well have been an accident.

Yet suspicions will inevitably surround the crash. After all, air incidents that killed high political officials in Northern Rhodesia (1961), China (1971), Pakistan (1988), and Poland (2010) are still often subject to speculation. In this case, much as in the others, one question will likely drive the speculation: Who stands to benefit politically from Raisi’s death? Even if the answer to this question does not ultimately tell us why the helicopter crashed, it could shed some light on what will come next in the Islamic Republic.

Raisi ascended to the presidency in 2021, in what appeared to be the least competitive election Iran had held since 1997. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had made sure that all other serious candidates were barred from running. Among those disqualified were not only reformists but also centrist conservatives and even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a former hard-line president whom Khamenei came to see as a rival.

Raisi appeared to have been picked precisely because he could never be a serious rival to Khamenei. In 2017, he revealed himself to be utterly uncharismatic in electoral debates against then-President Hassan Rouhani. His time in office since 2021 also speaks not only to his sheer incompetence but also to his political irrelevance. Some call him the Invisible President. During the Women, Life, Freedom movement, which rocked Iran from 2022 to 2023, few protesters bothered to shout slogans against Raisi, because they knew that real power rested elsewhere.

For Khamenei, what mattered was that Raisi could be counted on to toe the regime’s line. Although competition is tight, Raisi may have more blood on his hands than any other living official of the Islamic Republic. Since the 1980s, the Islamic Republic has executed thousands of Iranian dissidents. The judiciary is the arm of the government that carries out this murderous function, and Raisi has held leading positions within it from the very start; he rose to become the head of the judiciary in 2019.

The same qualities that likely made Raisi seem like a safe regime choice for the presidency also made him a primary contender for succeeding Khamenei as the Supreme Leader. According to the Iranian constitution, only a cleric with serious political experience can become head of state. By now, many clerics who fit that description have died or been politically marginalized (many of them did not share Khamenei’s hard-line politics), leaving the field open to Raisi. In turn, many political observers expected that Raisi would be a weak supreme leader, allowing real power to flow elsewhere—to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for example, or to other power centers around or ancillary to the regime. Who better for such a position than an unimpressive yes-man?

Raisi belongs to a very particular precinct of Iran’s political elite, and in the past few years, others in the political class had come to worry about the ambition of the circles surrounding him. A native of the holy city of Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, Raisi previously held the custodianship of the holy shrine in the city, which is also an economic empire in its own right. He is married to the daughter of Mashhad’s Friday-prayer leader, an arch social conservative. Raisi’s wife, Jamileh Alamolhoda, has played an unusually public role, leading some conservatives from outside the couple’s regional cadre to worry that after Khamenei’s eventual death, a “Mashhad clique” might come to the top of the regime.

Raisi’s apparent passivity has also emboldened challengers among a band of particularly noxious hard-liners, who saw his weak presidency as an opportunity to raise their political profiles at the expense of more established conservatives, such as the parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Some of these ultra hard-liners did well in the parliamentary election earlier this year, which was largely a contest within the hard-line camp. They ran a heated campaign against Qalibaf, who commanded the support of the main pro-regime conservative political parties and many outlets of the IRGC.

For all of these reasons, Raisi’s death would alter the balance of power among factions within the Islamic Republic. According to the Iranian constitution, his vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would assume the duties of the presidency, and a council consisting of Mokhber, Qalibaf, and the judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i would have to organize new elections within 50 days. When I asked an official close to Qalibaf about the political aftermath of the crash, he answered immediately: “Dr. Qalibaf will be the new president.”

He surely would like to be. Qalibaf’s ambition is news to no one; he has run for president several times, starting in 2005. More technocrat than ideologue, Qalibaf was a commander in the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War and will likely command at least some support from within its ranks. His long tenure as mayor of Tehran (2005–2017) was marked by both a degree of competence and quite a bit of corruption. His political enemies have recently highlighted cases of corruption linked to him and his family. An official close to former President Rouhani tells me, “Qalibaf’s problem is that he wants it too much. Everyone knows he has zero principles and will do anything for power.”

If Qalibaf registers to run in a hastily organized presidential election, the Guardian Council might have a hard time rejecting him, given his deep links to power structures in Iran. But would Khamenei be happy with the presidency passing to a technocrat without proper Islamist credentials? Who else would be allowed to run, and could they defeat Qalibaf at the polls, as Ahmadinejad and Rouhani did respectively in 2005 and 2013?

What twists the plot is the fact that some regime officials and former officials who are supportive of Qalibaf also advocate for Khamenei’s son Mojtaba to succeed his father as the supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei has long been in the shadows, and little is known about the 54-year-old’s politics or views, but he is widely held to be a serious contender for the office. Could there be a bargain between Mojtaba and Qalibaf that paves a path to power for both of them?

When the Islamic Republic’s founding leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died, in 1989, Khamenei replaced him after making an unwritten pact with fellow cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who then assumed the presidency. The constitution was swiftly changed to give more powers to the president. Rafsanjani would come to regret the pact, as he was politically sidelined by Khamenei before dying what many in Iran consider a suspicious death, in 2017. Could this cautionary tale make both sides wary?

Many have anticipated a ferocious power struggle in Iran, but most expected it to follow Khamenei’s death. Now we are likely to see at least a dress rehearsal in which various factions will brandish their strength. As for the people of Iran, some have already started celebrating Raisi’s potential demise with fireworks in Tehran. Most Iranians barely feel represented by any faction of the Islamic Republic, and some might use a moment of political crisis to reignite the street protests that have repeatedly beleaguered the regime in the past. The country’s civic movements are exhausted following years of struggle (more than 500 people were killed in the most recent round of protests, from 2022 to 2023). Still, whatever shape the power struggle takes at the top, the people of Iran won’t receive it passively for long.
Click to expand...
 
Iran president Raisi’s recent friendship with China, North Korea could be the reason behind his killing, but who is it? Israel or US?
 
KingKhanWC said:
Sad . Condolences to the Iranian people
Click to expand...
The regime seems to be quite unpopular even among Iranians in Iran.

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The bodies of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other deceased leaders are currently en route to the city of Tabriz, according to reports from Arab media sources.

Upon their arrival in Tabriz, post-mortem examinations will be conducted to ascertain the cause of their deaths.

Following the completion of the post-mortem procedures, it is anticipated that the bodies will then be transported to the capital city of Tehran. Here, leaders at the official level are expected to pay their respects and offer condolences to the families of the deceased.

The official burial ceremony is scheduled to take place tomorrow, with Ibrahim Raisi likely to be interred in the Iranian city of Mashhad, a significant religious hub for Shia Muslims.

The transfer and funeral arrangements come in the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, which claimed the lives of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and other prominent officials. The nation mourns the loss of these esteemed leaders as preparations are made to honour their memory.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash in steep terrain and freezing conditions, multiple Iranian news agencies reports on Monday, adding search teams found the charred wreckage of the helicopter they were travelling in the province of East Azerbaijan.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters, "President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash," requesting anonymity due to the delicate nature of the situation.

Source: Samaa News
 
RIP...May Almighty Allah grant him Jannat.

He was flying in an American-built Bell 212 helicopter. This must have been supplied to the Shah before the 1979 revolution. It was an old machine, and was most likely not in good condition due to the non-supply of spare parts thanks to the sanctions. I'm surprised that the Iranian Authorities allowed their Head of State to fly in such a poorly maintained aircraft. They should have acquired newer and safer helicopters from Russia or China for their VIPs.
 
gani999 said:
RIP...May Almighty Allah grant him Jannat.

He was flying in an American-built Bell 212 helicopter. This must have been supplied to the Shah before the 1979 revolution. It was an old machine, and was most likely not in good condition due to the non-supply of spare parts thanks to the sanctions. I'm surprised that the Iranian Authorities allowed their Head of State to fly in such a poorly maintained aircraft. They should have acquired newer and safer helicopters from Russia or China for their VIPs.
Click to expand...
Exactly… Russian make helicopters a would have better option and they are at par with US
 
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