Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced five days of mourning following the death of the country’s President, Ebrahim Raisi.
Mr Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of north-western Iran, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
State media confirmed they were killed after the helicopter they were travelling in came down on Sunday.
Ayatollah Khamenei said he offered his condolences “to the dear people of Iran”.
Mr Raisi, 63, had been tipped as a potential successor to the supreme leader.
State media said elections would be held on 28 June to choose a new president.
In the meantime, Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed to assume interim duties.
Iran’s cabinet has also appointed deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister.
Iran’s cabinet has also appointed deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister.
It was initially reported that the helicopter carrying the men and their entourage had made a hard landing in foggy conditions.
The area where the aircraft came down is close to the border with Azerbaijan, where Mr Raisi had been meeting President Ilham Aliyev.
According to local media he was there to open the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams.
On Monday, the Iranian Red Crescent confirmed the bodies of the president and others who died in the crash had been recovered and search operations had ended.
Source bbc
Comments are closed.