Iran releases initial report on the helicopter crash involving Ebrahim Raisi | 5 key findings | World News

Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces released the first report of the inquiry into the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others. The report indicated that there was no external interference in the incident and that the helicopter was following its intended path before crashing into a mountainous area.

According to the investigation, the helicopter caught fire upon impact, but there were no signs of bullet holes or similar damage on the wreckage. Pre-crash communications between the aircraft and ground control were also found to be normal. Iranian drones located the crash site early Monday morning, and search teams were dispatched promptly.

President Raisi was laid to rest at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, a significant pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims. He was buried in a tomb at the shrine, becoming the first top politician in Iran to be interred there. The funeral ceremony was attended by mourners from across the country, paying their respects to the late leader.

Following Raisi’s untimely death, Mohammad Mokhber, previously a relatively unknown figure, has assumed the position of acting president in Iran. The country has scheduled its next presidential election for June 28, with no prominent frontrunner emerging among Iran’s political leaders. The absence of a clear candidate from the Shiite cleric community marks a departure from Raisi’s background.