The Iranian cabinet has convened a second emergency meeting in less than 24 hours following the confirmation of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
WikkiTimes had earlier reported that Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were on board the helicopter that suffered a “hard landing” in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province.
Heavy rain and fog made it difficult for authorities to locate the helicopter on time. The Iranian state news agency IRNA described the mountainous area as a “forest,” and state television has aired footage of SUVs travelling through a wooded region.
The Iranian local media reported on Monday that the Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber had already chaired a meeting on Sunday evening after the helicopter went missing with nine people on board over Iran’s north-west.
The report stated that Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian also died in the helicopter crash.
Iran Aircraft Accident: President Raisi, FM on Missing Aircraft
Raisi and Amirabdollahian were travelling back from a meeting with the president of neighbouring Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, when their aircraft disappeared from radar on Sunday afternoon.
According to protocol, with Raisi’s death, Mokhber should assume power, pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
NAN reports that new elections will then have to be held within 50 days.