Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been declared dead following an helicopter crash which occurred in a mountainous region of the country on Sunday.

Iranian state media on Monday, announced the President Raisi’s death quoting Iran’s vice president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri posted on X a Koranic verse used to express condolences.

According to report, nine people were on board the aircraft, as reported by Tasnim news agency.

Recall that rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.

Early this morning 20th May, 2024, rescue workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV announcing that the president had died.

“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.

CREDIT: newsarena.ng