Iranian President, Foreign Minister Martyred in Helicopter Crash


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, were confirmed to have been martyred after their helicopter crashed in northwestern Iran on Sunday.

The tragic accident happened as the president and his entourage were returning from Khoda Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan after inaugurating a dam at the common border with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The crash has killed President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, Friday prayers leader of Tabriz Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati, and members of the president’s security team and the crew. 

The wreckage of the helicopter was found by rescue teams in the wee hours of Monday. 

The president’s convoy included three helicopters. Two of the choppers carrying a number of ministers and officials had landed safely in the foggy weather.