Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash, along with six other officials. 

The fatal accident occurred earlier this week as they were returning from inaugurating a dam project near the Azerbaijan border.

Nation in Mourning

Iran has declared five days of mourning following the devastating loss. 

Raisi’s funeral procession began in the northwest city of Tabriz and is set to move through the spiritually significant city of Qom before reaching the capital, Tehran, by Wednesday. 

The journey will conclude with a final stop at Raisi’s hometown of Birjand, and he will be laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on Thursday. Sanam Vakil, director of MENA at Chatham House, highlighted the significance of this loss, noting, 

“Obviously, the loss of the head of state and the foreign minister is a very big deal. This comes actually also at a time when the [Iranian government] system has taken many hits across the region in their campaign and contested relationship with Israel.”

Technical Failure Cited

According to state news media, the crash was attributed to a “technical failure” and occurred in the Dizmar forest in East Azerbaijan province, near the border with Azerbaijan. 

The wreckage was found after a challenging search operation hampered by rain and fog. Iran has not provided further details on other potential causes of the crash.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society mobilized over 2,000 rescuers and aid workers in the search effort. Countries like Turkiye, China, and the European Union reportedly contributed to the search.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent, mentioned that it took about an hour for rescuers to reach the crash site after a Turkish UAV detected the wreckage.

Possible Contributing Factors

Determining the exact cause of the crash remains complex, but several factors could have played a role, including weather conditions, pilot error, and the aircraft’s condition. Helicopters, which operate at lower altitudes than fixed-wing aircraft, often have decreased access to weather information. 

A 2021 analysis by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics indicated that weather is a factor in 28 percent of all fatal helicopter crashes.

Historical Context of Helicopter Crashes

The Bell 212 helicopter, which crashed, is an American-made aircraft first flown in 1968. 

Despite its durability and popularity, it has been involved in approximately 30 accidents since 2017, with eight resulting in fatalities, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

Impact of Sanctions

Decades-long US sanctions against Iran have significantly impacted the maintenance of its aircraft fleet. 

Aviation analyst Alex Macheras suggested that the sanctions likely contributed to the crash, as Iran has struggled to obtain spare parts necessary for proper maintenance. 

“When aircraft are not receiving the maintenance that is required, you end up in a territory that puts ultimately the lives of those on board an older aircraft at risk,” Macheras said.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director with the International Crisis Group, echoed this sentiment, adding that human error and weather conditions could also have contributed to the accident. 

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed the United States, stating that sanctions have prevented Iran from maintaining adequate aviation safety standards.

Speculation and Reactions

While some speculated about potential foul play, countries like Israel and the United States have denied any involvement. 

An Israeli official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin both stated that their countries had no role in the crash.

Future Leadership

The sudden loss of President Raisi, who was considered a potential successor to Iran’s supreme leader, raises questions about future leadership. 

According to Sanam Vakil of Chatham House, the new leader will need to be “loyal, conservative, and support the current direction of the Islamic Republic.”

The crash has left Iran grappling with the sudden loss of its top leaders and underscored the challenges facing the country’s aviation sector amid longstanding international sanctions. 

As Iran mourns, the global community watches closely to see how the nation will navigate this significant political and emotional upheaval.

The Information is Taken from The Hindu and ABC News