Three-day funeral for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has begun following his death in a helicopter crash. The tragic accident occurred on Sunday when Raisi was returning from a trip to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The helicopter crashed in the Dizmar forest in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board, including key officials such as Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and East Azerbaijan’s governor Malek Rahmati.
Thousands have taken to the streets of Tabriz to witness the funeral procession. Raisi’s body will be moved next to Qom and then to Tehran, where a funeral ceremony led by Supreme Leader Khamenei will take place on Wednesday. Wednesday has also been declared a public holiday in Iran. The final burial ceremony will be held in Mashhad at the shrine of the eighth Shia Imam Reza on Thursday night.
Raisi’s Legacy and Impact
Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-liner and former judiciary head, was viewed as a protege of Supreme Leader Khamenei. His tenure saw worsening relations with the West, uranium enrichment closer to weapons-grade levels, and Iran’s supply of drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. His government faced significant protests over economic issues and women’s rights.
Regional Tensions
The crash occurs amid heightened regional tensions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Iran-backed Hamas initiated the recent hostilities, and Hezbollah has launched rockets at Israel. Iran has also conducted drone-and-missile attacks on Israel.
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