Tragedy In Iran Confirmed: President Raisi, Top Officials Die In Crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan, according to Iranian state media and Reuters.

The helicopter, carrying nine people, crashed in heavy fog while returning from a trip to the Iran-Azerbaijan border.

Despite an extensive search-and-rescue operation with international assistance, all passengers were confirmed killed including the president, aged 63.

The deaths were confirmed in multiple media reports by Iranian state media Press TV and semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies as well as Reuters, citing a senior official.

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

“The head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, said earlier Monday there were no signs of life of those traveling on board the helicopter, Iranian state news IRIB reported.

“The helicopter carrying nine people ran into trouble in heavy fog while returning from a trip to the Iran-Azerbaijan border, Iranian officials said Sunday.

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“The crash prompted an hours-long search-and-rescue operation with assistance from the European Union and Turkey, among others, but emergency crews were hampered by the fog and plummeting temperatures”.