Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others were confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed on Sunday, Iranian officials and state media said Monday, disrupting the power structure in Tehran as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini continues his increasingly aggressive campaign for regional dominance.

After Raisi’s death was reported by state media, Khameini announced five days of national mourning and appointed Mohammad Mokhber, first vice president, to temporarily succeed Raisi as president. An election to determine Raisi’s official successor for the next four years is supposed to take place within 50 days under Iran’s constitution.

The helicopter crash site was found in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border under blizzard conditions.