Iran Mourns President Raisi in Fatal Chopper Crash.
Iran was plunged into mourning after President Ebrahim Raisi and senior cabinet members including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian perished in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain.
The chopper, carrying the leadership team for a dam inauguration project, lost contact on Sunday afternoon in East Azerbaijan province under foggy, icy conditions.
What followed was an agonizing search and rescue operation spanning over 12 hours through dense forested areas, as the nation prayed for survivors. Raisi, a conservative stalwart backed by the influential Revolutionary Guards, was 62.
Amir-Abdollhanian, an experienced 60-year-old diplomat, also lost his life in the tragedy along with the provincial governor. The wreckage was eventually located after intense combing efforts in the challenging high-altitude terrain.
With Iran facing multiple crises domestically and in its West Asia region, the sudden demise of top leadership has clouded its future trajectory. Tributes poured in for the departed souls, remembering their service to the nation at its helm.
As the investigation into cause gets underway, somber Iranians grieve a shocking end to promising lives cut short in their prime, dealing a massive blow at the highest echelons of power.
