(Image source from: Reuters.com)
On Tuesday, funeral ceremonies will commence for the former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The tragic incident occurred during foggy weather conditions, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Raisi's passing, along with other high-ranking officials, including the foreign minister, has left Iran's hardline establishment in a state of uncertainty. This comes as the country faces growing regional tensions and domestic unrest. The Iranian government has organized several days of mourning, culminating in a funeral later this week for the 63-year-old ultraconservative cleric. Funeral prayers and a procession will take place in the northwestern city of Tabriz, where the chopper crashed. The bodies of the victims will then be moved to Qom, a holy city where many of Iran's clerics are trained, before being transported to the capital, Tehran.
On Wednesday, a public holiday was announced by Mansouri, and as a result, offices across the country were closed to make way for processions. Reports from Mehr News suggest that Raisi’s body will be moved to the renowned Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad where prayers will be led by Ayatollah Khamenei. It is unclear what caused the crash that claimed the lives of several high-ranking Iranian officials, and why they were all travelling in an old helicopter. Following the helicopter's disappearance on Sunday night, Turkey claimed to have monitored it for a "signal," but nothing was detected.
Turkey's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, stated that his team reached out to the Iranian side after a helicopter crash in Eastern Azerbaijan. The Iranian side contacted them as well, but the signal system was either turned off or the helicopter was not equipped with one. It is unclear whether they are referring to the helicopter's transponder, which is usually standard. When asked about the possibility of sabotage, Uraloglu declined to comment, saying it was too early to determine the cause of the crash. Initial indications suggest that the crash was due to foggy weather. Iran's military chief has appointed a commission to investigate the cause of the crash, which includes military and technical experts. A high-ranking delegation will go to the crash site, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. The loss of Raisi, a conservative hardliner and protege of Ayatollah Khamenei, further destabilizes a country already struggling with significant economic and political stress, as well as dangerously high tensions with Israel.
Leaders from Russia, China, and North Korea have expressed their condolences and admiration for the late Iranian President Raisi. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un all released statements praising Raisi and calling him a "friend." Kim Jong Un described Raisi as "an outstanding statesman" who had made significant contributions to Iran's sovereignty and development. Xi Jinping credited Raisi with maintaining Iran's security and stability, as well as promoting national development and prosperity.
