Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been confirmed d£ad hours after a helicopter carrying him and several high-ranking officials crashed in East Azerbaijan province.

The tragic accident occurred on Sunday, May 19, while they were returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.

The helicopter, which was en route from Tehran to Tabriz, went down on Sunday, k+lling everyone on board.

Other victims include: Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian; Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati; Imam Mohammad Ali Alehashem of Tabriz; the Pilot and Copilot; the crew chief and the Head of Security and Bodyguard.

Confirming the sad news on Monday, the Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, said: “The rescue forces reached the remains of the helicopter.

Upon discovering the location of the crashed helicopter, no signs of the helicopter’s occupants being alive were observed.”

Meanwhile, in accordance with the constitutional protocol, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is next in line for succession.