The Iranian president died in a plane crash. Representatives of India, Venezuela, Belarus and Armenia expressed condolences to the Iranians in connection with the death of their leader Ibrahim Raisi.
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The death of Raisi was reported on the morning of May 20 by the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr news agency, and subsequently Reuters and Associated Press wrote about it.
Also on board were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati and Friday Imam of the city of Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale Hashem. All passengers and crew of the Iranian President’s helicopter died in the plane crash.
The Iranian government called an emergency meeting. According to the Constitution, the first vice president becomes the temporary head of state. This post is held by Mohammad Mokhber.
Next, new presidential elections in Iran are due to take place within 50 days. The authorities say that nothing will change in the governance of the country during this period.
Reuters writes that 68-year-old Mohammad Mokhber is considered close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He headed Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader and subject to US sanctions.
At the same time, the vice president himself is not yet under sanctions.
According to the publication’s sources, Mokhber was part of a group of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply missiles and drones to Russia.
He was a complete admirer of the line of the ultra-conservative President Raisi. It consisted of military rapprochement with Russia, a hard line in relations with the West, and a rejection of the dollar in payments.
Raisi’s death will not change Iranian politics, but will lead to a power struggle
The Times of Israel writes that while the death of two senior Iranian officials would be a dramatic event at a time when multiple conflicts are raging in the region, it will most likely not have a significant impact on the course of these confrontations as decisions on foreign policy and war are pending administered by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The President of the Islamic Republic is an executor, not a decision maker… Therefore, Iran’s policy, its principles will remain unchanged, said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran.
At the same time, the sudden loss of Iran’s president will create a power vacuum that senior figures will begin to take advantage of.
According to Art. 131 of the Iranian Constitution, in the event of the death of the president, his powers are temporarily transferred to the first deputy. This role is currently filled by Mohammad Mokhber, a Khamenei supporter. Elections must be held within fifty days.
There are not enough influential officials waiting for an opportunity to advance further in the power structure, and such an unexpected shock as the death of the president would test Khamenei.
He must show that he can lead the leadership, not the country, through this transition, says Ori Goldberg of Reichman University.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.