TEHRAN - Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi, who lost his life along with his entourage in a recent helicopter crash, was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Raisi's body, along with those of the two members of his accompanying team, arrived at Mashhad's international airport Thursday afternoon from Birjand, the capital of the eastern South Khorasan province, where a funeral ceremony had been held for the late president and his companions earlier in the day, the report said.

Waiting for the bodies at the airport were several Iranian officials, including cabinet ministers, as well as top military commanders, such as Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Esmaeil Qaani, according to the IRNA.

Mashhad's Mayor Mohammad-Reza Qalandar Sharif told the IRNA that at least 3 million people from Mashhad and other cities had taken part in the funeral procession, causing the vehicle carrying the bodies of Raisi and his companions to stop momentarily several times on its way through the densely-packed streets leading to the holy shrine.

The bodies of the other two individuals, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and head of the president's security team Mehdi Mousavi, will be buried in the provinces of East Azarbaijan and Tehran, as reported by local media.

Raisi and his entourage were en route to East Azarbaijan province when the helicopter carrying them crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.

Also on board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader to East Azarbaijan.

Amir-Abdollahian was laid to rest on Thursday in a ceremony south of the Iranian capital Tehran, according to the IRNA.

TEHRAN -- The General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces on Thursday released the first report on the causes of a recent helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

Following the crash, a senior investigation committee composed of experts, specialists and technicians arrived at the scene on Monday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the report by the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces as saying.

According to the report, the helicopter had remained on its predetermined course all along the way and had not deviated from the flight route.

Almost one minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter had contacted the other two helicopters of the president's convoy, the report said.

No trace of bullets or similar items have been detected on the wreckage of the crashed helicopter, it said.

After crashing into the mountain, the helicopter had caught fire, it said.

"Complications of the region, fog and low temperature" had caused the search and rescue operations to continue until nightfall and then throughout the night, the report said, adding, "At 5:00 a.m. local time on Monday (0130 GMT), with the assistance of drones, the exact location of the incident was identified."

No suspicious issue had been detected in the conversations between the watchtower and the flight crew, it added.

More details would be provided after further investigations, it said.

Raisi and his entourage were en route to East Azarbaijan province when the helicopter carrying them crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.

Also on board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader to East Azarbaijan.

Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday led prayers at the funeral of late President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, whose coffins were wrapped in Iranian flags at the University of Teheran.

After the event, Khamenei met with more than a dozen foreign heads of state and government who attended the ceremony for Raisi and other officials killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, the Iran International Newsroom said. Iran also proclaimed five days of mourning for Raisi.

More than 40 high-ranking foreign delegates, foreign ministers, and heads of parliament were expected to take part in the commemoration ceremony in Teheran on Wednesday, Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency said.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Zhang Guoqing will attend the memorial service in Teheran on Wednesday. Zhang is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-premier of the State Council.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya also traveled to Teheran for the funeral.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh attended the prayers on Wednesday morning.

In a speech hours before his death, Raisi emphasized Iran's support for the Palestinians.

"We believe that Palestine is the first issue of the Muslim world," Raisi said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as a reliable partner always good to his word, and asked the chairman of parliament on Tuesday to convey his sympathy at memorial events.

Thousands of people, including heads of Iranian government branches and military officials, gathered at the university campus to pay their respects to Raisi and his companions.

The mourners were carrying photos of the late president, and banners, with one reading, "It is the day of mourning", while the other said, "It's an honor that I voted for a martyr".

Raisi's body was kept at Teheran's Grand Mosalla Mosque on Wednesday for the people to pay homage to the departed leader. The body will be taken to his hometown Mashhad, in eastern Iran, for burial on Thursday, IRNA reported.

In the capital, huge banners have gone up hailing the late president as "the martyr of service", while others bade "farewell to the servant of the disadvantaged".

"I was sad, I came to calm my heart and calm the heart of the supreme leader," one mourner who gave her name only as Maryam told Agence France-Presse and said she had traveled from Varamin, south of Teheran, to pay her last respects.

Details recounted

A search and rescue operation was launched at the site of the helicopter crash, with the Iranian military saying on Wednesday that domestically produced drones played a key role in locating the crash site.

On the fateful day, while returning from the inauguration of Qiz Qalasi Dam, a joint Iran-Azerbaijan project, Raisi's helicopter, which was flying along with two other helicopters, suddenly disappeared while they were trying to avoid clouds.

After the accident in the mountains, Iran's presidential chief of staff managed to contact one of the victims, Tabriz Friday prayer leader Seyyed Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, who succumbed hours later, according to Iranian news agencies.

In an interview with Iranian state TV, Gholamhossein Esmaili, who was traveling in one of the two helicopters in Raisi's entourage, said the helicopters were trying to avoid the clouds before the tragedy occurred.

Esmaili said the helicopters had taken off at around 1 pm local time on May 19 when the weather conditions were normal, reported IRNA.

After 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot of the president's helicopter ordered other helicopters to increase altitude to avoid nearby clouds, Esmaili said. Below them was the Dizmar forest area, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azerbaijan Province.

However, "after 30 seconds of flying over the clouds, our pilot noticed the helicopter in the middle had disappeared", he said.

Esmaili's pilot circled and returned to search for the president's helicopter, only to find their view affected by poor weather conditions, reported Mehr News Agency of Iran.

Several attempts to contact the president's helicopter through radio devices proved futile. The other two helicopters continued their flight and landed at a nearby copper mine.

On Tuesday, the Assembly of Experts held its first session since being elected in March.

A portrait of the departed leader was kept on the seat that Raisi would have occupied at the meeting of the 88-member panel. Acting President Mohammad Mokhber also attended.

Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.

At least one of the entourage of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi lived for some time after their helicopter's hard landing and the flight had been generally okay for less than one hour before it disappeared quickly.

Even after the accident deep in the mountains, Iran's presidential chief of staff succeeded in contacting one of the victims, the Friday prayer who likely succumbed hours later, according to Iranian news agencies.

In his recount during an interview with the Iranian state TV, the official Gholamhossein Esmaili said the helicopters were trying to avoid a nearby cloud before the tragedy. He was on board one of the three helicopters of Raisi's delegation returning from the inauguration of Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint Iran-Azerbaijan project.

Esmaili said the helicopters had taken off at around 1:00 pm local time on May 19 when the weather condition was normal, reported Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency, or IRNA

After 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot of the president's helicopter who was in charge of the convoy, ordered other helicopters to increase altitude to avoid nearby clouds, Esmaili said.  Below them was the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

However, "after 30 seconds of flying over the clouds, our pilot noticed that the helicopter in the middle had disappeared," he said.

His pilot began circling and returning to search for the president's helicopter, only to find their views handicapped by poor weather conditions, reported Mehr News Agency of Iran. 

Several attempts to contact the president's helicopter through radio devices proved to no avail, and while it was unable to decrease altitude because of the clouds, the two helicopters continued the flight and landed at a nearby copper mine. 

Sadly, neither Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian nor head of the president's guard unit responded to repeated calls afterwards, Esmaili told the media. 

Suddenly, the voice of Tabriz Friday prayer leader Seyyed Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, came in when the pilots of the two other helicopters tried to contact Captain Seyed Taher Mostafavi, who was in charge of the president's helicopter.

The prayer leader, who managed to take the call, was apparently not in a good situation but revealed the copter had gone down into a valley, Easmaili added.

In a hurry, Esmaili himself made a second contact with Ali Ale-Hashem and received the same answers about the situation. 

Yet heavy fog and rains prevented the rescuers to locate the exact spot immediately, according to Mehr News Agency.

"When we found the location of the accident, the conditions of the bodies indicated that President Raisi and other companions had died instantly but Ale-Hashem had been martyred after hours," Esmaili said.

The body of Ale-Hashem was the only one found in a better physical condition among all nine victims, the head of Iran's Crisis Management Agency, Mohammad-Hassan Nami, told International Metalworking News for Asia (IMNA).

Others martyred in the crash included East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, a member of the president's bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi, the helicopter's co-pilot Mohsen Daryanosh, and crew, according to a Tehran Times report.

The probe into the crash launched by the Iranian authorities go on.

The bodies of Raisi, Ale-Hashem along with others are now laid in Teheran for funeral ceremonies. Since the early hours of Wednesday morning, local people poured into the streets of Teheran to say the last farewell to their beloved ones. 

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is scheduled to do the prayers in a ceremony in the University of Teheran early Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to maintain strategic autonomy, solidarity and cooperation and never allow external forces to turn the SCO region into a geopolitical arena.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Tuesday when addressing the meeting of the SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. It was held to make preparations for the 24th meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council in Astana in July.

Wang said that amid global turbulence and transformation, a small number of countries pursue hegemony and power politics, form exclusive cliques, establish hidden rules, and engage in interference and suppression as well as economic decoupling and disruption of industrial and supply chains.

They fan the flames of the three evil forces of separatism, extremism and terrorism in the region, he said, adding that their purpose is to hold back the strategic autonomy of the Global South and block the way of emerging markets and developing countries toward rejuvenation.

Wang urged the SCO member states to uphold the "Shanghai spirit", which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development, and to further strengthen and solidify the organization to safeguard the members' common interests and uphold international fairness and justice.

He underlined the need for the SCO countries to respect one another's core interests and engage in dialogue to resolve differences.

Wang also called for security cooperation, saying that common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security should be the ongoing dynamics in the region.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn

DUBAI — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead on Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic republic without two key figures as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly named the first vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber, as caretaker.

"The Iranian nation has lost a sincere and valuable servant," said 85-year-old Khamenei, whom Raisi had been expected by many observers to one day succeed.

Iran has offered no cause for the crash nor suggested sabotage brought down the helicopter, which fell into mountainous terrain in a sudden, intense fog.

In Iran's capital Teheran, businesses were open and children attended school on Monday. However, there was a noticeable presence of security forces.

Later in the day, hundreds of mourners crowded into downtown Vali-e-Asr Square holding posters of Raisi and waving Palestinian flags. Some men clutched prayer beads and were visibly crying. Women wearing black chadors gathered together holding photos of the dead leader.

"We were shocked that we lost such a character, a character that made Iran proud, and humiliated the enemies," said Mohammad Beheshti, 36.

Iran's military chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri ordered "a high-ranking committee to launch an investigation into the cause of the president's helicopter crash".

Flags flew at half-staff and a black banner was hoisted at a major Shiite shrine in the city of Qom south of Teheran.

A procession on Tuesday led by a semitruck carrying caskets of the dead slowly moved through the streets of downtown Tabriz, the closest major city to the site of the crash.

A funeral procession will take place in the capital on Wednesday.

The election for a successor is to be held on June 28, IRNA said.

Raisi had succeeded Hassan Rouhani in 2021, at a time when the economy was battered by renewed US sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.

Last March, Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a surprise deal that restored diplomatic relations.

The Gaza conflict sent tensions soaring and a series of tit-for-tat escalations led to Teheran launching hundreds of missiles and rockets directly at Israel in April.

In a speech hours before his death, Raisi emphasized Iran's support for the Palestinians, a centerpiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"We believe that Palestine is the first issue of the Muslim world," Raisi said.

Hamas mourned Raisi as an "honorable supporter" of the Palestinian militant group, and hailed his "support for the Palestinian resistance".

Agencies via Xinhua

Massive crowds filled the main square of Tabriz in northwestern Iran as well as mosques in Teheran and elsewhere on Tuesday as Iranians prayed for and held funeral ceremonies for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who were killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash.

Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian are credited with resounding achievements in foreign relations that are likely to continue even after the new presidential election that is scheduled next month, according to analysts.

Following mourning announcements by Iranian authorities tasked with arranging the services, funeral ceremonies for those who died in the crash were first conducted in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, on Tuesday morning, the second day of the five-day national period of mourning.

Huge processions of mourners were seen in online videos posted by Iran's Tasnim News Agency. Using their mobile phones, some mourners recorded their glimpses of the fallen leaders' caskets, which were draped in the colors of the Iranian flag.

The mourning services will lead up to a funeral and burial ceremony for Raisi on Thursday in the holy city of Mashhad, his hometown, according to Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency.

Speaking at the Tabriz ceremony, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran "mourned the death of a beloved, popular and humble president", adding that the nation was also saddened by the death of a foreign minister "who left active diplomacy in the critical moments of the resistance as his legacy".

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari on Tuesday in Astana, Kazakhstan, and again expressed his condolences over the deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian.

Wang and Safari were in Astana for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's foreign ministers' meeting.

No matter how the situation changes, China will as always strengthen strategic cooperation with Iran, safeguard the common interests of both sides and continue to make efforts for regional and world peace, Wang said.

Safari emphasized that Iran's domestic and foreign policies will not change.

Teheran attaches great importance to its relationship with Beijing and is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in various areas including politics, the economy and culture, Safari said.

Ali Khansari, an international affairs analyst at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Teheran, said that Iran has come together despite the political and ideological differences of political parties, journalists, university professors and "even ordinary people".

"In their eyes, this tragedy is very bad and sad," Khansari said.

Mehran Kamrava, a professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said that Raisi "did have measurable successes" when it came to his foreign policy, and did so on "two fronts" in particular — in improving relations with Iran's neighbors as well as with Russia, India and China.

During Raisi's time in office, Iran made strides in its relationship with its regional and Asian neighbors, including its acceptance into BRICS in August, with official membership beginning on Jan 1. In addition, Iran gained full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in July.

Carlos Martinez, a British political commentator, said, "Ebrahim Raisi fought with honor in the struggle against imperialism, for sovereignty, for peace and multipolarity."

Martinez said that Raisi's legacy includes resolute support for Palestinian liberation, Iran's membership in BRICS and the SCO, a significant deepening of Iran-China relations, and a total refusal to succumb to the West's bullying and intimidation. Raisi also rejected speculation that only through rapprochement amid sanctions from the West could Iran achieve its economic success, Martinez added.

Iran will hold a presidential election on June 28, according to a statement by the agency headed by acting president Mohammad Mokhber.

Registration of candidates will be carried out from May 30 to June 3, with the campaign period taking place between June 12 and 27, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, said Iran's procedures for power transition are clear and well-defined.

Niu said he believes that the overall situation in Iran remains stable and that Raisi's death will have a limited influence on the Palestine-Israel conflict and regional dynamics, as the ultimate decision-maker in Iran's domestic and foreign affairs is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Shu Meng, an assistant professor at Shanghai International Studies University's Middle East Studies Institute, said that because Raisi had been viewed as a potential successor to Ali Khamenei, the tragedy leaves Iran without a clear candidate for successor, possibly forcing a future power structure readjustment.

Also on Tuesday, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani was elected as the new chairman of Iran's Assembly of Experts, a legislative body responsible for appointing Iran's supreme leader and supervising his activities, IRNA reported.

Chen Weihua in Brussels and Zhou Jin in Beijing contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com

Foreign Ministers from the Middle East and around Asia were quick to pledge their continued support to the caretaker of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani as he took office following the death of his immediate predecessor.

Bagheri Kani replaces Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who died in a helicopter crash along with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and members of their delegation on May 19 in Varzaqan county near Iran's border with Azerbaijan.

Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that the acting foreign minister held phone conversations with his counterparts from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Jordan, and Kuwait on May 20.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu held a phone call with Bagheri Kani the same day, offering his deep condolences and sympathy.

Ma honored President Raisi's role in strengthening and deepening the strategic partnership between Iran and China and hailed the role of the late Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian in advancing the 25-year partnership treaty between Teheran and Beijing.

Bagheri Kani thanked the Chinese officials for sympathizing with Iran, calling for the promotion of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and the close coordination of their foreign ministries on bilateral, regional, and international issues.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani offered condolences to his newly appointed counterpart, crediting the roles of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian in expanding relations between their two countries as "significant".

Al Thani reportedly expressed his hope that cooperation would continue "in all fields".

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan shared his condolences with Begheri Kani, who expressed hope that the mutual cooperation between Teheran and Riyadh would contribute to the security and stability of the region.

The two countries restored diplomatic relations last year in a deal brokered by China.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya vowed to stand by the Iranian government and the people of Iran at this difficult time, while Bagheri Kani emphasized the need for continuing the path of good relations between their countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need for the continuation of cooperation between the major countries of the Islamic world to stop the "genocide" being carried out by Israel in Gaza and support the people of Palestine.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also made a similar appeal.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared his condolences in a post on X.

"Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran's President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at (this) time of this tragedy," he wrote.

Gokhan Ereli, Gulf Studies coordinator at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Turkiye, noted that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously said that there would be no power or management vacuum in Iran and that due to the country's state tradition and unique political structure.

"I do not anticipate any significant shift in foreign policy goals or methods. Similarly, the deaths of the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs will not significantly alter Iran's foreign policy, as they were primarily the executors of established state policy," said Ereli.

A statement released by Iran's Foreign Ministry on May 20, praised Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian for having "played a historic, effective and lasting role" in the history of the country's politics and foreign relations over the last three years.

The statement praised the "tireless efforts of the two precious martyrs".

Their achievements included "promoting Iran's status in the international system, bolstering convergence and consolidating bonds of friendship and affection" within the region, establishing constructive ties in the international system, and "supporting the establishment of justice at the regional and global levels".

The foreign ministry vowed to carry on its work.

"Undoubtedly, the martyrdom of the prominent servants of the country will not disrupt the diplomatic apparatus's determination in securing the national interests and playing an effective and constructive role for the Islamic Republic of Iran in regional and international equations," the statement continued.

"We appreciate the expression of human feelings and emotions by the heads of state and nations, prominent political and religious figures, and international organizations and their solidarity with the Iranian government and people," it added.

Xu Weiwei and Mike Gu in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

Iran has assigned a high-ranking delegation to investigate the May 19 helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying team of senior officials, including the nation's foreign minister, according to state media.

The investigation group was assigned by General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. The delegation headed by Brigadier Ali Abdollahi has been dispatched to the site of the incident and the investigation has started.

The result of the investigation will be announced later when the mission is completed, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency or IRNA reported.

Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi described the accident as a "hard landing due to the weather conditions". In an interview aired on state TV on Monday, he said: "The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog."

Late president Raisi, along with foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials, was heading to the city of Tabriz in the northwest of Iran, where he had been scheduled to inaugurate a project at the Tabriz oil refinery, when the accident took place. Raisi had earlier travelled to the far northwestern province of East Azerbaijan for the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi and Khoda Afarin dams on the morning of May 19.

The president's delegation had been travelling in a convoy of three helicopters. As for the other two helicopters that were flying alongside the president's chopper, they had initiated a search for 15 to 20 minutes after communication was lost.

The helicopter Raisi was travelling in was a Bell 212 model that is meant to be adaptable to all sorts of situations, including carrying people, deploying aerial firefighting gear, ferrying cargo and mounting weapons.

It is likely that the decades-long US sanctions against Iran have played a role in the helicopter crash as the Iranian helicopter fleet is old and deteriorating, an independent aviation analyst, Alex Macheras, told Al Jazeera.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director with the International Crisis Group, said the US sanctions have deprived Iran of the ability to renew and repair its fleet for decades. IRNA reported that the helicopter crash happened due to technical failure.

In an On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House on Monday, John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, denied accusations that US sanctions may have led to the crash, calling any such claims "utterly baseless". He said the US has not determined the cause of the accident, even as Iranian sources pointed to thick fog in the area where the aircraft went down.

Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary of the US, said on Monday when answering a question of the correspondents in the Pentagon: "The United States had no part to play in that crash. That is a fact, plain and simple. Again, they have to conduct an investigation to see what the cause of the crash was. It could be a number of things, mechanical failure, pilot error, you name it."

Not long after the helicopter crash, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told NBC News: "I have just spoken to the intelligence authorities. At this point, there is no evidence of foul play. It was very bad foggy weather in northwest of Iran when the helicopter crashed. So, it looks like an accident, but it is still being fully investigated."

A day after the crash, Matthew Miller, US State Department Spokesperson, said in a press conference that the US had been unable, due largely to logistical reasons, to accept an Iranian request for help following the helicopter crash, as Washington offered its condolences.

Meanwhile, an Israeli official told Reuters that Israel has nothing to do with the death of the Iranian president in the helicopter crash.

"It wasn't us," said the Israeli official, who requested anonymity. There was no immediate official Israeli government reaction to Raisi's death.

Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkish Minister of Transport, disclosed on Monday to the reporters from Anadolu Agency, "We found out that the signaling system in the helicopter was probably malfunctioning or it was not equipped with one."

Uraloglu said that it was too early to decide the causes, but added it is possible that poor weather conditions contributed to the crash.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

A day of state mourning was observed across Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka on May 21 in honor of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Leaders of other South Asian countries also expressed their grief and paid their respects after the death of the president in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Iranian president, Iran's foreign minister and others who lost their lives in the accident, said the office in a statement.

"Today, Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend. Just last month, we had the honor of hosting him in Pakistan. During our discussions, I found him very keen on strengthening our bilateral relations. Raisi always had a special place for Pakistan and its people," he said.

Paying tribute to Raisi's dedicated services, Zardari said the Iranian president will be dearly missed and fondly remembered in Iran, Pakistan and the Islamic world for his efforts to enhance relations with regional and Islamic countries, according to the president's office statement.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to the Iranian embassy to Islamabad and sent condolences to Iran on behalf of his country and its people.

Also, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on May 20 — the same day Raisi and the others onboard were confirmed dead, Sharif wrote: "I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss. May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage."

Pakistan is observing a day of mourning and fly the flag at half-mast "as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran".

An Indian Union Home Ministry spokesperson said on May 20, India had decided that "as a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries" there would be one day of state mourning on May 21.

On buildings where it is flown regularly the national flag would be flown at half-mast throughout India and there would be no official entertainment that day, he added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country "stands with Iran in this time of sorrow" in a post on X.

"His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," Modi wrote on May 20.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also posted a message on the social media platform, saying: "Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran's President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at time of this tragedy."

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe also posted to share his sorrow at the death of the late Iranian president.

"I express my deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the government, and the people of Iran," he wrote on X on May 20.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of President Raisi and his entourage," he added.

The national flag of Maldives was to be flown at half-mast for three days starting from May 20 to show respect for Raisi.

"I pray to Almighty Allah to bless the souls of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian, and others who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident and to grant them Jannatul Firdaus (Islam's highest level of heaven)," wrote Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on X on May 20.

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh also expressed their condolences in a statement.

"President Raisi's visionary approach as well as courage and dignity in dealing with difficult issues stand as a model and inspiration for all of us. Iran has lost a wise and erudite leader whose empathy with the people made him outstanding," Shahabuddin said.

According to a statement, Hasina said: "In this hour of grief, on behalf of the government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I convey our deepest condolences to the government and the brotherly people of Iran."

The Iranian authorities will hold a funeral for late president Ebrahim Raisi on May 23 and the next presidential election on June 28.

They said the election will be held on June 28 to determine the new president and the registration of candidates will be carried out from May 30 to June 3, and the election campaign period will be from June 12-27, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran states the formation of a council to manage the executive affairs of the country for a period of 50 days and prepare for the presidential elections.

While Iran is mourning the death of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a number of senior provincial officials for the second of fiveday national mourning, authorities issued a notice, saying that a funeral will be held for Raisi in South Khorasan Province on May 23 and he will be laid to rest in his hometown Mashhad same day.

Raisi and his accompanying team lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Varzaqan, northwestern Iran, on Sunday while returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran's border with Azerbaijan.

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoud Hosseini, the director of a local office of Iran's Islamic Propagation Organization in Tabriz, told IRNA that in the funeral procession on May 21, the people of Tabriz will bid farewell to the president and carry his body to the Tabriz airport.

People in Teheran are already holding ceremonies mourning the death of Raisi.

Both Turkiye and Sri Lanka have announced one-day mourning for the Iranian president, as cited by the Daily Mirror news website and IRNA.

Editor's note: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in the country's mountainous province of East Azerbaijan. China Daily looks at the transition process, as well as the condolences extended by leaders from across the globe.

TEHERAN — World leaders have extended condolences to Iran as the country on Monday mourns President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash.

The crash occurred on Sunday in Varzaqan County. The helicopter carrying Raisi was forced into a hard landing while navigating mountain terrain in heavy fog.

Raisi, along with his accompanying team on board three helicopters, was on his way from Khoda Afarin County — where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of a dam along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev earlier in the day — to the provincial capital Tabriz for the inauguration of a petrochemical complex.

The other members onboard Raisi's helicopter, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, as well as the flight crew, also lost their lives.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of mourning and assigned Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber, 68, to assume interim duties ahead of elections within 50 days.

Khamenei urged Iranians on Sunday to "not worry" about the leadership of the nation, saying "there will be no disruption in the country's work".

The veteran nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri was on Monday named acting foreign minister to replace Amir-Abdollahian.

"We were very sad when we learned the news," said one Teheran resident Nabi Karam.

"Our president was a very good leader, may God bless him."

Iranian authorities first raised the alarm on Sunday afternoon when they lost contact with Raisi's helicopter as it flew through a fog-shrouded mountain area of the Jolfa region.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi at first spoke of a "hard landing" and urged citizens to ignore hostile foreign media channels and get their information "only from state television".

As the sun rose on Monday, rescue crews said they had located the destroyed helicopter, with no survivors among the nine people on board.

State television channel IRIB reported that the helicopter had "hit a mountain and disintegrated" on impact.

Iran's Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said its staff members were "transferring the bodies of the martyrs to Tabriz" and that "the search operations have come to an end".

Arhama Siddiqa, a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in Pakistan, told China Daily: "Under the late President Raisi, Iran has adeptly navigated complex global diplomacy and economic challenges, including significant strides in its nuclear program and JCPOA negotiations."

She noted that Raisi's administration has not only made advancements in space technology, but "also capitalized on international sanctions to enhance domestic technologies in defense and nuclear sectors".

"We have also seen this period of strategic diplomatic and economic activity underscore how his foreign policy was premised on the belief that sustainable economic linkages are a precursor to regional development, growth and stability," she said.

Help pouring in

Foreign countries have been closely following the incident. Expressions of concern and offers of help had quickly come from countries, including China, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkiye, which offered their condolences.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed Raisi as an "outstanding politician" and said his death was an "irreplaceable loss".

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a statement on Monday that he is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Raisi.

US President Joe Biden was briefed about the search and the European Union activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in the search effort.

According to NBC News, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the intelligence authorities have informed him 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.

Israel was not involved in the death of Raisi, an Israeli official told Reuters on Monday.

"It wasn't us," said the official who requested anonymity.

International organizations and other countries also expressed concern over the incident and readiness to provide help.

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha offered heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Iran over the death of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian and their accompanying delegation.

He "prayed to Allah to shower them with mercy and forgiveness, to admit them to paradise, and to grant their relatives the fortitude to bear the loss", according to a statement from the OIC.

Xinhua

Jan Yumul in Hong Kong and Jiang Xueqing in Tokyo contributed to this story.

UNITED NATIONS -- Members of the UN Security Council on Monday observed a minute of silence to mourn the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other passengers in Sunday's helicopter crash.

At the beginning of a Security Council meeting on Monday morning, Mozambique's UN ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso, who chaired the meeting, asked all those present in the Security Council chamber to stand and observe a minute of silence for the tragic loss of life and to present condolences and sympathy to their families and to the people of Iran.

He said the minute of silence was requested by Russia, China, and Algeria.

TEHRAN -- Iran's government decided on Monday that the country's 14th presidential election would be held on June 28, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The election date was determined in a meeting attended by Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, currently assuming the presidency, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as well as Vice President for Legal Affairs Mohammad Dehqan and representatives of the Iranian Constitutional Council and Interior Ministry, the report said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and some members of his accompanying team, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were confirmed dead Monday morning as the wreckage of the helicopter carrying them was found following its crash in bad weather on Sunday near Varzaqan County, some 670 km away from Tehran.

According to Article 131 of Iran's Constitution, the first vice president will take the helm of the executive branch if the president is unable to perform duties. Also, the interim president is duty-bound to make arrangements for the election of a new president within a maximum of 50 days.

During the meeting, the participants also set the schedule for the election processes, including the formation of executive delegations, the registration of candidates, and the launch of electoral campaigns, according to IRNA.

Based on the schedule, the registration would be conducted from May 30 to June 3, following which candidates would have to conduct electoral campaigns from June 12 to 27, the report said.

According to IRNA, the Constitutional Council has initially consented to the schedule.

President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences on Monday over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, saying that the Chinese people have lost a good friend who made positive efforts for consolidating and developing ties between Beijing and Teheran.

Raisi and other officials were confirmed dead early Monday after a challenging overnight search amid bad weather in northwestern Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, according to Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency. Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president, in line with Article 131 of the Iranian Constitution.

In a message sent to Mokhber on behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, Xi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Raisi and extended sympathies to Mokhber, Raisi's family and the Iranian government and people.

Xi said that since Raisi took office as president, he had made important contributions to maintaining Iran's security and stability and promoting national development and prosperity. Raisi's unfortunate demise is a great loss for the Iranian people, the Chinese president said, adding that the Chinese people have lost a good friend.

Xi also said the Chinese government and Chinese people highly value the country's traditional friendship with Iran, while expressing hope that the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to be consolidated and developed with joint efforts from both sides.

The Chinese side also expressed deep condolences over the death of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who also was killed in the crash. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed head of the international committee of Iran's Foreign Ministry, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported, citing an announcement by Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi.

Raisi's helicopter crashed on Sunday in the Varzaqan region of Iran as he was returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on Iran's border with Azerbaijan, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported. The bodies of those who had been aboard the helicopter were first transported to Tabriz in northwestern Iran before other arrangements were made, according to Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who oversaw the search.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on Monday that after the crash, China provided active assistance with the search and rescue work.

"We are willing to continue to provide all necessary support to the Iranian side and believe that the Iranian government and people have the capability to overcome this difficult time," he said.

With condolences of other state leaders and heads of international organizations pouring into Teheran, Iran will observe five days of public mourning, as declared by Ali Khamenei on Monday morning.

"In this bitter tragedy, the Iranian nation lost a warm-hearted, humble and valued servant," said Iran's supreme leader in a public message.

Ali Khamenei expressed his "deep sorrow and regret" on social media platform X for what he called the "bitter news of the martyrdom of the people's President, the competent, hard-working Haj Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, and his esteemed entourage".

Ali Khamenei also honored others who were killed in the crash, including Tabriz Friday Prayer Leader Hujjat al-Islam Ale-Hashem and "the diligent, active Foreign Minister, Mr Amir-Abdollahian".

Also expressing grief over the dead were former presidents Hassan Rouhani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Mohammad Khatami.

Millions of Iranians had prayed for the safe return of Raisi from Sunday till Monday morning, only to sink in grief upon hearing of his death.

"I've been grabbed by grief," a middle-aged man in Teheran told CGTN on Monday, saying he loved the president.

Mokhber held an emergency meeting after rescue teams located the helicopter's wreckage, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Monday. The meeting was attended by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i.

Mokhber said that as the country's system is well-established and strong, there will be no problem in the administration of the country.

Ali Khamenei also tasked Mokhber, the Parliament speaker and the judiciary chief to prepare for elections to choose a new president within 50 days.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also expressed gratitude to the international community for its concern and assistance since the helicopter went missing on Sunday afternoon. Neighboring Turkiye and Azerbaijan sent rescue teams with night-vision equipment, and Turkish drones located the site of the helicopter wreckage in mountainous forests on Monday morning amid heavy fog. More than 45 local teams were also sent to the region to help find the crash site.

Mike Gu in Hong Kong and Xinhua contributed to this story. 

Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday appointed the country's First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

He made the remarks in a message extending condolences over the "martyrdom" of Raisi and his accompanying team's members, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan, according to a statement published on his website.

The leader described Raisi as a "popular, capable, hard-working and indefatigable" president, expressing great sadness at receiving the "bitter news of his martyrdom."

Khamenei said according to Article 131 of Iran's constitution, the first vice-president would be appointed at the helm of the executive branch.

He stressed that the first vice-president was duty-bound to, in cooperation with the parliament speaker and judiciary chief, make the arrangements for the election of the new president within 50 days.

The crash occurred on Sunday in Varzaqan County as Raisi, along with his accompanying team on board three helicopters, was on his way from Khoda Afarin County, where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of a storage dam along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev earlier in the day, to the provincial capital Tabriz for the inauguration of a petrochemical complex.

The other members onboard Raisi's helicopter, including East Azerbaijan's Governor Malek Rahmati and the Friday prayers leader Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale-Hasehem, as well as the flight crew, also lost their lives.

The deaths of Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and some other officials, in a helicopter crash on Sunday has raised concerns about how the tragedy will reverberate in Iran and beyond.

This is not a time for conspiracy theories. Nor for any schadenfreude on the part of those hostile to Iran.

Teheran should waste no time in verifying the cause of the crash some 20 kilometers south of the Azerbaijan-Iran border, which many have attributed to bad weather and technical problems, so as to ease domestic anger over the incident and prevent it being harnessed by some to their own ends.

Although some Western media have tried to hype up their speculation that the incident will further complicate Iran's relations with United States and Israel, or trigger domestic regime change, such outcomes are generally considered to be far-fetched and Teheran is confident that the domestic stability and the operation of the Iranian government will not to be affected.

With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei firmly holding the helm of the Islamic Republic, Iran is expected to maintain social and political stability and the consistency of its diplomatic policies. That means the death of Raisi, despite him being a hard-liner against Israel, will not change Iran's support for Hamas and Hezbollah in their conflict with US-backed Israel.

President Raisi visited China in February last year, which made positive contributions to sustaining the healthy development of Sino-Iranian relations and deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation that brings tangible benefits to the two peoples. And it was under his regime that with joint efforts of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iran and Saudi Arabia have achieved reconciliation, bringing greater security and stability to the Middle East. Also, he saw Iran become a full member of BRICS, a platform China, Iran and other developing countries can take advantage of to promote multilateralism, common development and a just and fair global system.

Raisi, along with Amirabdollahian and the other Iranian officials who died in the crash, should be remembered for these positive developments that have served the well-being of the Iranian people, but also world peace and stability.

Editor's Note: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were declared deceased on Monday following a helicopter incident on Sunday. Below are excerpts of views shared by Chinese experts on this tragic incident.

Crash has profound impact on Iran

The world was shocked after getting confirmation on Monday that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash.

The crash is not necessarily related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. So far, Iran is attributing it to adverse weather conditions and mechanical failure. The sudden deaths of the president and foreign minister are significant and unexpected events for Iran. In the short term, the country will likely enter a period of national mourning, halting all formal activities, including diplomatic engagements. Iran is expected to declare a state of emergency.

Thereafter, a new presidential candidate will have to be selected. Vice-president Mohammad Mokhbar can step into Raisi's shoes in the interim, but Raisi was seen as a successor to the Supreme Leader. Therefore, Iran must carefully consider who will take Raisi's place in the long run. The country will need to soon decide who will run for the next presidency or the Expediency Discernment Council will choose as a candidate.

In the immediate aftermath of the deaths of Raisi and Abdollahian, it is unlikely Iran can focus on regional diplomacy. Recent de-escalation talks with the United States might be put on hold. This development can lead to a reduction in Iran's involvement in Middle East affairs. Iran has been a key supporter of the Axis of Resistance, backing groups such as Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Given the current situation, Iran may not be able to coordinate the collective actions of the resistance axis effectively. The military implications of this situation will require continued observation.

Ma Xiaolin, dean of and a professor at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University.

Chance of 'assassination' slim

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were confirmed dead on Monday, a day after a helicopter carrying them went missing amid bad weather in the East Azerbaijan province on Sunday.

Although conspiracy theories are floating claiming he could be assassinated, available evidence suggests this was an accident; from a domestic and international perspective, there is not sufficient motive to assassinate Raisi.

Iranian media reports said the helicopter carrying Raisi, Abdollahian and other officials was a Bell 212 purchased from Canada during former president Mohammad Khatami's term (1997-2005). Even if the helicopter was newly manufactured at the time of purchase, it is no longer modern. And its maintenance is not easy for Iran, given the sanctions.

Even the Iranian government is not linking the crash to hostile forces at home or abroad.

Therefore, Raisi's unfortunate and untimely death will not have a major impact on the situation in the Middle East. This is just an internal political issue in Iran, because the supreme leader has a predominant role in policy formulation.

And given Iran's current domestic politics, the next president will also come from the conservative side. So Iran's government will maintain its national policy in the near future.

Fan Hongda is a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute, Shanghai International Studies University.

No reason for Israel to escalate confrontation

Given the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and the enduring feud between Israel and Iran, it is natural for conspiracy theories to arise in the aftermath of the helicopter incident in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were declared dead on Monday.

However, it is unlikely Israel would have escalated tensions to the point of targeting Iran's head of state. Nonetheless, the investigation's outcome will be critical in determining whether external forces played a role and how various actors might exploit the situation.

For Israel, anti-Iranian regional forces, and the United States, the death of Raisi and the weakening of the conservative faction led by Khamenei would be seen as advantageous. They would likely welcome the resulting power vacuum and potential destabilization within Iran.

In the short term, the impact on the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape might be minimal, as Iran's foreign policy is primarily guided by its Supreme Leader. The key factors to watch will be the outcome of the investigation and the reactions of regional powers.

In the long term, Raisi's death is a significant blow to Iran. As one of the most promising successors to the Supreme Leader, his passing creates a notable void in Iran's future leadership. This will have substantial implications for Iran's domestic governance and international relations. The process of selecting a new successor will be closely scrutinized, influencing Iran's strategic direction for years to come. Internal political dynamics may shift as factions reposition themselves, potentially affecting Iran's ability to maintain its influence in the region. Iran's foreign policy, especially its support for proxy groups, could undergo significant changes depending on the priorities and strategies of the new leadership.

Tang Zhichao, a researcher on Middle East studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Security remains prime task for Iran

Ebrahim Raisi, who was sworn in Iranian President in 2021, was considered the most likely successor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 84 years old.

Iran initially identified the accident as a "hard landing incident". Yet the specific cause requires further investigation. Three theories cannot be ruled out though.

First, bad weather is one of the possible causes, as extreme weather increases the probability of accidents.

Second, mechanical failure cannot be ruled out. The Bell 212 helicopter carrying Raisi was not very new, having been purchased from Canada during former president Mohammad Khatami's term (1997-2005). Because of sanctions imposed by the United States, it was not easy for Iran to maintain the copter and replace old components.

Third, an assassination bid or sabotage is also a possibility considering internal security problems in Iran. However, Iran needs to conduct a thorough investigation to find out the exact cause of the crash.

The incident will have a significant impact on Iran's internal and foreign affairs as well as the regional security situation, especially in the current context of instability in the Middle East, the Palestine-Israel conflict, and Iran's confrontations with the United States and Israel.

The sudden death of Raisi, who was Iran's executive head and its number two leader after the supreme leader, is a serious issue for Iran's political stability. A new president needs to be elected as soon as possible.

Among several cabinet members who serve as vice presidents, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber would step in as interim president.

Raisi's term was to end in 2025. New domestic political arrangements and a new balance of power between conservatives, moderates and hardliners may emerge in Iran. But Iran may not see an upheaval because Khamenei can still handle the country's political and religious affairs.

The world will see how the incident will affect Iran's regional security situation.

Iran's foreign policies have been pragmatic and prudent. Since coming to power, Raisi has adopted carrot-and-stick approaches. On the one hand, he tried to avoid direct conflicts with the US and Israel, which was evident in the Israel-Palestine conflict. On the other hand, Raisi actively improved Iran's relations with neighboring countries, including the Iran-Saudi Arabia talks in 2023 under China's mediation.

No matter who or which political faction comes to power, Iran is not likely to change the prior task of creating a secure and stable regional security environment conducive to its economic development by both mild and tough means.

Wang Lei, assistant research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolence to Iran's First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber following the unfortunate death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident.

On behalf of the Chinese government and the people of China, Xi expressed deep condolences and extended sincere sympathies to Mokhber, the family of President Raisi, and the Iranian government and people.

Xi said that since President Raisi took office, he made important contributions to maintaining Iran's security and stability and promoting national development and prosperity. He added that Raisi also made positive efforts to consolidate and deepen the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

Raisi's tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend, Xi said.

The Chinese government and Chinese people cherish the traditional friendship between China and Iran, Xi said, noting that with the joint efforts of both sides, the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to consolidate and develop.

Millions of Iranians are mourning the tragic news of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who has been confirmed dead after hours of challenging search and rescue efforts, according to Iran's Mehr News Agency.

Raisi died when the helicopter he was in crashed on Monday morning amid bad weather in the northwestern East Azerbaijan province. The tragedy also claimed the lives of eight other top Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan's Governor Malek Rahmati, and the Friday prayers leader Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale-Hasehem, according to Mehr. A similar report was filed by Al Jazeera quoting a senior official from Iran.

IRIB TV and other local TV stations have broadcast images of mourning Iranians gathering as the footage of the helicopter wreckage went live, with no survivors found at the site.

Earlier, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, told the media that the rescuers at the site of the crash said there "are no signs of survivors on the site" and the entire cabin of the helicopter "is significantly damaged and burned".

Many local people had been praying for the safety of the president since Sunday evening. Official arrangements for the mourning are yet to be announced.

The international community, including China and most countries in the Middle East, had expressed deep concerns about the fate of the president.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.