Iranian president and foreign minister died in a helicopter crash

Iranian president and foreign minister died in a helicopter crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, his chief guard, the foreign minister, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, a special representative of Ayatollah Khamenei, and three members of the helicopter crew were killed in the crash.

The Iranian Interior Minister confirmed that the wreckage of the helicopter that went missing last night was found in a dense forest 100 km away from Tabriz, saying that all the bodies were badly burned.

Officials say some bodies were burnt beyond recognition. The 3 crew members of the helicopter who died in the accident were identified as pilot Colonel Syed Tahir Mustafavi, pilot Colonel Mohsin Daryanosh and flight technician Major Bahrozish.

Apart from this, Chief Guard Sardar Syed Mehdi Yousefi of President Ibrahim Raisi's security team was also present in the helicopter.

President Ibrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmati and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's spokesman Mohammad Ali Al Hashim were also on board the helicopter.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, expressing his heartfelt sorrow over the accident, announced a 5-day national mourning day across the country and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar as interim president for 2 months.

Last night, the Iranian president was returning from Iran after inaugurating a joint dam in neighboring Azerbaijan, when his helicopter went missing due to bad weather and heavy fog.

Bad weather hampered rescue operations and it took hours to find the helicopter. The bodies were shifted to a hospital in Tabriz and are unrecognizable due to severe burns.