Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, dies in helicopter crash aged 63

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi died on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in a helicopter crash.

The helicopter, carrying Raisi and other officials, crashed in a mountainous and forested area of Iran during poor weather conditions.

Raisi, 63, served as Iran’s president for nearly three years and was preparing to run for re-election next year. He was a prominent figure in conservative and hardline political factions in Iran.

Before his presidency, Raisi was a former chief justice and was considered a potential successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 85-year-old supreme leader of Iran.

Born in Mashhad, Raisi received his religious education in Qom, studying under notable scholars, including Khamenei. He wore a black turban, signifying his status as a sayyid, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Raisi’s career included roles as a prosecutor in various jurisdictions and as a member of the Assembly of Experts, responsible for selecting a new supreme leader if needed.

In 2014, he became attorney general, and in 2016, he was appointed by Khamenei to lead Astan Quds Razavi, a vast charitable trust.

Raisi ran for president in 2017 but was unsuccessful. In 2019, he became the head of Iran’s judiciary, positioning himself as a defender against corruption and injustice.

He was elected president in 2021 amid low voter turnout and the disqualification of many reformist candidates.

As president, Raisi was known for his strong rhetoric against Israel and the United States, and he condemned actions taken by Israel against Palestinians.

He supported Iran’s “resistance” policy and was a close ally of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Raisi also backed Iran’s regional allies, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Raisi was married to Jamileh Alamolhoda, an associate professor at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University. They had two daughters and two grandchildren.