On Monday, May 20, Iranian media reported that President Ebrahim Raisi died in a fatal helicopter crash in the mountainous region of the country. The convoy included three helicopters, two of which safely landed in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
Passengers on Board the Doomed Helicopter
The ill-fated helicopter carried several high-ranking officials alongside President Raisi. Among them were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and the province’s main imam, according to the IRNA news agency.
1. Ebrahim Raisi: Iran’s President
Ebrahim Raisi rose to power in the 2021 presidential elections and was known for his close ties to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei. His tenure was marked by significant turmoil, including the largest protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The protests in 2022 were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, leading to widespread demonstrations that were brutally suppressed by the government.
2. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: Conservative Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was a conservative figure supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC). He backed the coalition of militant organizations known as the “axis of resistance” and played a significant role in Iran’s foreign policy.
3. Malek Rahmati: Newly Appointed Governor of East Azerbaijan
Malek Rahmati had recently been appointed as the governor of East Azerbaijan province by the Iranian Cabinet. Before this role, he led Iran’s Privatization Organization, succeeding Zeinolabedin Khorram as the top administrative official in the province.
4. Malek Rahmati: Newly Appointed Governor of East Azerbaijan
Malek Rahmati had recently been appointed as the governor of East Azerbaijan province by the Iranian Cabinet. Previously, he led Iran’s Privatization Organization, succeeding Zeinolabedin Khorram, who had been the top administrative official in the province for two years.
5. Mohammad Ali al-Hashim: Imam and Representative of the Supreme Leader
Mohammad Ali al-Hashim, Iran’s Supreme Leader’s representative in East Azerbaijan province and an imam in Tabriz, was also among those who perished in the crash. Al-Hashim was a member of the Expediency Council’s provincial chamber and a provincial deputy in the Assembly of Experts.
The loss of these key figures is a significant blow to Iran’s political landscape. The crash underscores the inherent risks faced by high-ranking officials in their duties and has left the nation in mourning. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as Iran navigates the aftermath of this tragic event.
