Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was declared dead on Monday after rescue teams located his helicopter, which had crashed in a foggy mountainous region in the west of the country. His death has led to national mourning in Iran.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds the highest authority in Iran, announced five days of mourning and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, 68, to assume interim responsibilities. Elections are expected to be held within 50 days.
Earlier on Monday, state television reported that "the servant of the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, has achieved the highest level of martyrdom" and broadcast images from Raisi's life. On Sunday, as the search for the helicopter was still underway, Khamenei reassured Iranians not to worry about the nation's leadership, stating that "there will be no disruption in the country’s work."
The crash also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and seven others, including the pilot, bodyguards, and political and religious officials.
