Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were killed in a helicopter crash, as reported by Mehr News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

Malek Rahmati, governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the Imam of Friday Prayer in Tabriz, were also on board. All of them are presumed dead.

The helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi and other officials disappeared on 19 May in the mountainous terrain of East Azerbaijan amid dense fog. The Iranian leader and other members of the delegation were attending the opening ceremony of a dam on the Araks River that morning. Two other helicopters from the President's motorcade arrived safely at their destination.

After more than 10 hours of search efforts, the crashing vehicle was located. It is assumed that the cause of the crash was weather conditions. The authorities of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other countries have declared their readiness to provide assistance in the search for the helicopter and investigation of the accident.

Iran's government held an emergency meeting after news of the crash. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will become acting president of the republic until elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences over the death of the Iranian leader.

"Ebrahim Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was dedicated to serving the Motherland. As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighbourly relations between our countries, made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership"

Vladimir Putin Russian President

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also expressed condolences to the people of Iran. "President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expresses his sincere condolences to the Iranian people and prays to God to rest the souls of the Iranian president and his companions," the Egyptian leader's spokesman Ahmed Fahmy wrote on his social media page. 

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, head of the United Arab Emirates, expressed solidarity with Iran over the tragedy. "I express my deepest condolences to the Government and people of Iran on the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and their companions in a tragic accident. The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time," he wrote in a social media post.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a telegram of condolences on behalf of the Chinese people over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a plane crash.

South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa expressed words of support to the leadership and people of Iran in connection with the death of the president and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"An unthinkable tragedy that claimed the life of the leader of a country with which South Africa maintains strong bilateral relations. We share Iran's pain in these days of mourning"

Cyril Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa

"I am deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of the President of Iran. His contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries will always be remembered"

Narendra Modi Indian Prime Minister