Iranian president coffin is taken to the imam

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the country’s acting president after President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Several officials, including a provincial governor, were on board when the aircraft went down in northern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. They all are believed to be dead.
Khamenei also declares five days of national mourning. New elections will be held within 50 days.
World and regional leaders send condolences following the deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian.

Thanks for joining our coverage of the developments surrounding the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash.

:Iran’s military chief of staff has ordered a probe into the cause of the helicopter crash, according to the ISNA news agency.
Funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place on Tuesday at 9:30am (06:00 GMT) in Tabriz, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the crash in an interview with state television.
Independent aviation analyst Alex Macheras has told Al Jazeera it is likely that the decades-long sanctions against Iran have played a role in the helicopter crash because its fleet is old and deteriorating.
The helicopter that crashed did not have its signal system turned on or did not possess such a system, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
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20 May 2024 - 15:30 (15:30 GMT)
Head of international nuclear watchdog extends condolences
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has extended his condolences.

“Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time,” he wrote on X.

I extend my condolences on the tragic passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other delegation members. Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/P79cfBv6Le

Non-military organisations that fly the Bell 212 include Japan’s coastguard, US law enforcement agencies and fire departments, and Thailand’s national police.
It is not clear how many Iran’s government operates, but its air force and navy have a total of 10, according to FlightGlobal’s 2024 World Air Forces directory.
Iran was a major purchaser of Bell and Agusta helicopters under the shah, becoming the Middle East’s largest military helicopter power, according to Western reports.
Iran’s current fleet includes an Italian-built naval version, the Agusta Bell AB-212.
The origin of the helicopter involved in the crash has not been confirmed, but an Iranian source says it was connected with Iran’s Red Crescent Society. Experts say the few details available suggest it may be 40 to 50 years old.
Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 15:00 (15:00 GMT)
UN Security Council observes minute of silence for Raisi
Members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence in memory of Raisi and his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash.

Mozambique Ambassador response, authorities had checked for a signal from the helicopter upon hearing news that it had crashed.

“But unfortunately, [we think] most likely the signal system was turned off or that the helicopter did not have that signal system,” he said.

Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 14:20 (14:20 GMT)
Iran’s former top diplomat Zarif blames US sanctions for Raisi crash
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the crash in an interview with state television.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the country’s acting president after President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Several officials, including a provincial governor, were on board when the aircraft went down in northern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. They all are believed to be dead.
Khamenei also declares five days of national mourning. New elections will be held within 50 days.
World and regional leaders send condolences following the deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian.

Thanks for joining our coverage of the developments surrounding the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash.

:Iran’s military chief of staff has ordered a probe into the cause of the helicopter crash, according to the ISNA news agency.
Funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place on Tuesday at 9:30am (06:00 GMT) in Tabriz, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the crash in an interview with state television.
Independent aviation analyst Alex Macheras has told Al Jazeera it is likely that the decades-long sanctions against Iran have played a role in the helicopter crash because its fleet is old and deteriorating.
The helicopter that crashed did not have its signal system turned on or did not possess such a system, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 15:30 (15:30 GMT)
Head of international nuclear watchdog extends condolences
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has extended his condolences.

“Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time,” he wrote on X.

I extend my condolences on the tragic passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other delegation members. Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/P79cfBv6Le

Non-military organisations that fly the Bell 212 include Japan’s coastguard, US law enforcement agencies and fire departments, and Thailand’s national police.
It is not clear how many Iran’s government operates, but its air force and navy have a total of 10, according to FlightGlobal’s 2024 World Air Forces directory.
Iran was a major purchaser of Bell and Agusta helicopters under the shah, becoming the Middle East’s largest military helicopter power, according to Western reports.
Iran’s current fleet includes an Italian-built naval version, the Agusta Bell AB-212.
The origin of the helicopter involved in the crash has not been confirmed, but an Iranian source says it was connected with Iran’s Red Crescent Society. Experts say the few details available suggest it may be 40 to 50 years old.
Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 15:00 (15:00 GMT)
UN Security Council observes minute of silence for Raisi
Members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence in memory of Raisi and his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash.

Mozambique Ambassador response, authorities had checked for a signal from the helicopter upon hearing news that it had crashed.

“But unfortunately, [we think] most likely the signal system was turned off or that the helicopter did not have that signal system,” he said.

Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 14:20 (14:20 GMT)
Iran’s former top diplomat Zarif blames US sanctions for Raisi crash
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the crash in an interview with state television.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the country’s acting president after President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Several officials, including a provincial governor, were on board when the aircraft went down in northern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. They all are believed to be dead.
Khamenei also declares five days of national mourning. New elections will be held within 50 days.
World and regional leaders send condolences following the deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian.

Thanks for joining our coverage of the developments surrounding the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash.

:Iran’s military chief of staff has ordered a probe into the cause of the helicopter crash, according to the ISNA news agency.
Funeral ceremonies for the president and his companions will take place on Tuesday at 9:30am (06:00 GMT) in Tabriz, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has blamed US sanctions for the crash in an interview with state television.
Independent aviation analyst Alex Macheras has told Al Jazeera it is likely that the decades-long sanctions against Iran have played a role in the helicopter crash because its fleet is old and deteriorating.
The helicopter that crashed did not have its signal system turned on or did not possess such a system, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
Click here to share on social media
20 May 2024 - 15:30 (15:30 GMT)
Head of international nuclear watchdog extends condolences
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has extended his condolences.