Sayyed Raisi, FM Amir Abdollahian, Companions Die in Chopper Crash

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter carrying President Raisi and his accompanying delegation crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

It was transporting Raisi, AmirAbdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem and a member of the president’s bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot and crew were also among others on board the chopper.

Raisi and his accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Following the announcement of the martyrdom of Raisi and his team, the cabinet held an emergency session headed by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber.

In a statement, the cabinet extended condolences to Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation over the martyrdom of President Raisi and his companions.

It assured the “loyal, appreciative and beloved” Iranian nation that President Raisi’s path will continue and not even a slight disruption will be caused in administrating the country’s affairs.

Imam Khamenei on Sunday said the nation should not be worried or anxious, because “there will be no disruption to the work of the country.”