Live updates: Iranian President Raisi confirmed dead in helicopter crash, state media reports (2024)

Hamas expresses condolences for deaths of Raisi, others on helicopter

Lawahez Jabari

Dennis Romero

Lawahez Jabari and Dennis Romero

Reactions are starting to trickle in as world leaders learn of Raisi's death.

India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, wrote in a post on X that he was "deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise" of Raisi.

"His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered," Modi said. "My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow."

Nine people were on board the helicopter that crashed, leaving no survivors, Tasnim News Agency, a government-affiliated outlet, reported.

It listed the decedents on board with Raisi. They included Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian; Ayatollah Al Hashem, representative of the supreme leader for parts of Azerbaijan; Eastern Azerbaijan Gov. Malek Rahmati; Cmdr. Seyed Mahdi Mousavi, the head of the president’s security unit; and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member Ansarol Mahdi.

The helicopter's pilot and co-pilot and a technical assistant also on board were not identified.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known for enforcing brutal crackdowns on political opposition and seen as a potential successor to the supreme leader, has died in a helicopter crash landing in the country’s north, state media reported Monday. He was 63 years old.

Raisi, a conservative hard-line cleric, took office in August 2021 after several popular candidates were disqualified from the election, which saw historically low turnout. He wore a black turban, symbolic of those who are descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

His tenure saw a crackdown on mass protests after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed; the enforcement of a strict women’s dress code; increased enrichment of uranium after the U.S. withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal; and increased military tensions with Israel and the West as the regime supported Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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According to Iranian law, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume power after receiving an approval from the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the head of state.

A presidential election must be called within 50 days, the law says.

Khamanei has said there will be no disruption to state affairs.

President Ebrahim Raisi died when the helicopter he was in crashed Sunday, and no survivors were located early Monday, Iranian state media has confirmed.

Raisi, 63, was returning with other government officials who presided at the inauguration of a dam on the Aras River on the border with Azerbaijan when the helicopter went down near the village of Uzi in in northwest Iran, according to reports.

Iran state media reported there is "no sign of life" after the helicopter carrying Iran's president was located.

The exact site of the helicopter crash has been found, according to Iranian media outlets.

The head of the Iranian Red Crescent said early Monday local time that searchers were walking toward the helicopter and were about 2 kilometers away, Fars News Media reported.

Student News Network reported that first responders were on their way to the downed helicopter.

Large groups gathered to pray for Raisi following the “crash landing” of his helicopter. Raisi’s condition remains unclear.

SenateMajority LeaderChuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says intelligence authorities have informed him that there is "no evidence of foul play" in the helicopter crash.

"It was very bad, foggy weather, northwest Iran where the copter crashed. So it looks like an accident, but it’s still being fully investigated," Schumer said. "There’s an ongoing effort to locate the helicopter. They still haven’t done that, and I’ll keep monitoring the situation as it unfolds.”

Schumer made the remark at an unrelated news conference in Manhattan today, just as Iranian state media reported that crews believe they have found the site of the crash.

The location of the helicopter crash has been identified, Iranian state media reported.

The commander of the East Azerbaijan Army said that a signal from the helicopter and a cellphone belonging to one of the crew members at the accident site was received "minutes ago."

"Right now, we are leaving with all the military forces to the area in question and I hope to give good news to the people," the commander said.

Video from Iranian state media appears to show heavy fog around the area where crews are reportedly carrying out search-and-rescue efforts after the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienceda “hard landing.” Raisi’s condition is unknown.

Mohsen Mansouri, Iran's vice president, said that contact has been established between rescue workers at two people involved in the crash.

He did not specify who rescue workers had been in contact with when making the comments on state television today, but noted that communication was established on "several occasions."

Hours after the helicopter crash was reported, state news reports that the search-and-rescue operations are approaching the site where they believe the crash occurred.

Tasnim News and Ofogh television, both state news sources, said that Red Crescent workers were in the vicinity of the crash and expected to come across the site soon. Iran's interior minister previously said that the crews were struggling to reach the remote area of the crash due to heavy fog and bad weather.

A video clip published to Tasnim's social media purportedly showing the area displayed the low visibility and what sounded like heavy winds as people walked with flashlights. The grainy footage showed the silhouettes of people a few yards away as strong gusts could be heard in the background.

NBC News is not able to independently verify the footage.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei released a statement following news of the crash, saying that he hoped God would return Raisi and the officials traveling with him "to the arms of the nation."

The statement was reported by Nour News, which is closely linked to Iran's immensely powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"Everyone should pray for the health of this group of servants," the statement said. "If the people of Iran do not worry, there will be no disruption in the work of the country."

According to Iranian English-language state news agency Press TV, two helicopters from Raisi’s convoy carrying government ministers and officials had reached their destination safely.

Press TV did not add any details about who exactly had landed safely.

The official Instagram page for Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, posted a request for prayers today after news that his helicopter made a crash landing.

Raisi's photo was posted to the account's "stories" with the words "Khatm Salavat" written across it the large font. The term "Salavat" is referring to an Islamic prayer praising the prophet and the prophet's family.

The post requested Iranians pray for Raisi's health as well as the delegation he was traveling with, which included the president's security detail, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and East Azerbaijan's governor, Malik Rahmati.

Their conditions are currently unknown.

Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state television that heavy fog and bad weather delayed the search and rescue teams from being able to reach the site of the crash.

“There have been contacts with [the president’s] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts. We hope that the rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information,” he told IRINN, a state television channel.

He also added that though the area is remote, the rescue work is "under control."

BAKU, Azerbaijan — Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said he was profoundly troubled by news of the Iranian president's helicopter crash landing after bidding a friendly farewell to Ebrahim Raisi earlier in the day.

"Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran," Aliyev said.

"Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed."