MUSCAT : The accident claimed the lives of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, the Imam of Tabriz Mosque, Ayatollah Al Hashemi, and other officials.

“We assure our people that the path of service will continue and there will not be the slightest problem in running the country,” the statement read.

Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, who became the eighth president of Iran on August 3, 2021, succeeded former President Hassan Rouhani. Before his presidency, Raisi served as the first vice president of the Iranian Leadership Council of Experts and the head of the judiciary, a position he was appointed to by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on March 7, 2019.

Raisi first ran for president on April 6, 2017, but lost to Hassan Rouhani, who secured a second term. He ran again in the 2021 presidential elections and was declared the winner on June 19, 2021, with 61.95 percent of the votes.

During his presidency, Raisi focused on economic reforms and building distinguished relations with neighboring countries. His administration sought to strengthen Iran’s trade exchanges with numerous friendly nations and mitigate the negative effects of international sanctions. Raisi aimed for rapprochement with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt and took steps towards broader economic reform.

Born in Mashhad in 1960, Raisi completed his primary education at Jawadiyah School before joining the seminary in Mashhad. At fifteen, he moved to Qom for further religious studies. Raisi’s career included roles such as the Public Prosecutor of Karaj, Deputy Public Prosecutor in Tehran, Head of the General Inspection Department, and Prosecutor General of Iran between 2015 and 2017.

The search and rescue operation for the helicopter carrying President Raisi involved extensive international cooperation. Sixteen rescue teams and drones were dispatched to the crash site, located in a challenging mountainous and forested area with severe weather conditions, including dense fog.

International relief teams offered assistance, and the European Union activated satellite services to aid in the search.

Many countries have expressed solidarity with Iran, issuing statements of condolence following the tragic accident.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.