Iran's President, Foreign Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash
2024-05-21
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1Iranian state media reported Monday that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other top officials died in a helicopter crash in the country's northwest.
2The helicopter crashed on Sunday in bad weather in Iran's East Azerbaijan province.
3Search crews found the wreckage Monday.
4Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also among those killed.
5The Iranian officials were returning to Iran after attending the opening of a joint dam project at the Iran-Azerbaijan border.
6Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced five days of mourning.
7He appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president.
8Mokhber then named Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as foreign minister caretaker, a Cabinet official said.
9An election for a new president is set to take place in the next 50 days.
10Raisi was 63 years old.
11He was elected president in 2021.
12Most of his main opponents were barred from running in the election, which had record low turnout among voters.
13Raisi, an ultraconservative, had strong support from Khamenei.
14On Sunday, Iranian state television showed video of government supporters gathering in different parts of the country to pray for Raisi's safe return.
15Images published on social media Sunday showed opponents of Iran's Islamist rulers setting off fireworks in several places to celebrate the possibility of Raisi's death.
16VOA's Persian Service examined the images and said they are credible, or real.
17But it could not independently confirm the reason for the fireworks.
18VOA is barred from reporting inside Iran.
19In one video, a woman identifies the location of fireworks as southern Tehran.
20In another video, a man reacts to what he says are fireworks in the city of Saqqez in northwestern Iran's Kurdistan province.
21Governments around the world reacted to the news of Raisi's death.
22Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq and other nations announced a period of mourning.
23Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Monday that he was "deeply shocked by the heavy loss."
24Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as an "outstanding politician." He called him a "true friend of Russia."
25Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi expressed Egypt's solidarity with "the leadership and people of Iran in this great loss."
26Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was shocked by the development.
27He added that "India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow."
28European Council President Charles Michel said the European Union "expresses its sincere condolences."
29"Our thoughts go to the families," Michel said.
30I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Iranian state media reported Monday that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other top officials died in a helicopter crash in the country's northwest. 2The helicopter crashed on Sunday in bad weather in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. Search crews found the wreckage Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also among those killed. 3The Iranian officials were returning to Iran after attending the opening of a joint dam project at the Iran-Azerbaijan border. 4Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced five days of mourning. He appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president. Mokhber then named Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as foreign minister caretaker, a Cabinet official said. 5An election for a new president is set to take place in the next 50 days. 6Raisi was 63 years old. He was elected president in 2021. Most of his main opponents were barred from running in the election, which had record low turnout among voters. Raisi, an ultraconservative, had strong support from Khamenei. 7On Sunday, Iranian state television showed video of government supporters gathering in different parts of the country to pray for Raisi's safe return. 8Images published on social media Sunday showed opponents of Iran's Islamist rulers setting off fireworks in several places to celebrate the possibility of Raisi's death. 9VOA's Persian Service examined the images and said they are credible, or real. But it could not independently confirm the reason for the fireworks. VOA is barred from reporting inside Iran. 10In one video, a woman identifies the location of fireworks as southern Tehran. In another video, a man reacts to what he says are fireworks in the city of Saqqez in northwestern Iran's Kurdistan province. 11Reactions from world leaders 12Governments around the world reacted to the news of Raisi's death. Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq and other nations announced a period of mourning. 13Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Monday that he was "deeply shocked by the heavy loss." 14Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as an "outstanding politician." He called him a "true friend of Russia." 15Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi expressed Egypt's solidarity with "the leadership and people of Iran in this great loss." 16Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was shocked by the development. He added that "India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow." 17European Council President Charles Michel said the European Union "expresses its sincere condolences." 18"Our thoughts go to the families," Michel said. 19I'm Ashley Thompson. 20VOA News reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English, with additional materials from The Associated Press. 21________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23province - n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into 24opponent - n. a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an action, law, or system) 25solidarity - n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals, etc. 26condolences - n. a feeling or expression of sympathy and sadness especially when someone is suffering because of the death of a family member, a friend, etc. 27sorrow - n. a feeling of sadness or grief caused especially by the loss of someone or something