 Iran President, Foreign Minister Death Live Updates, May 20: Following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, India announced one day’s state mourning on May 21 (Tuesday). Russia, meanwhile, said it is ready to assist in Iran’s investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Raisi, state news agency RIA quoted Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu as saying.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died after his chopper ‘crashed’ in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing state media. Several leaders across the world mourned the leaders’ deaths, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following Raisi’s demise, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is set to be in charge of Iran’s executive branch as per the constitution, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.
The crash comes at a time when Iran is facing several challenges — with dissent over a range of political and economic issues, as well as international pushback over its support for Hamas and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war with Ukraine. Last month, the relations between Iran and Israel had strained further, with both launching attacks on each other’s territories.
