Iranian state media confirmed on Monday the death of President Ebrahim al-Raisi in a helicopter crash in the dense forest area of East Azerbaijan province in northeastern Iran, near the border with Azerbaijan. The crash occurred on Sunday as Raisi, 63, and other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were returning from the Khoda Afarin region.
There are two girls born to the couple. Raisi was educated in religion. He was fifteen when he enrolled at a seminary in Qom. They had just inaugurated a dam at the common border with Azerbaijan when their helicopter went down amid heavy fog and rain. Despite hours of search and rescue operations, efforts were hindered by bad weather conditions. Two other helicopters in the convoy, carrying other officials and ministers, managed to land safely.
Who Was Ebrahim al-Raisi?
Ebrahim al-Raisi became Iran’s eighth president after winning the June 2021 elections, which saw the lowest voter turnout since the Islamic Republic’s founding in 1979. Only 41% of the 61 million eligible voters participated, amounting to 25 million votes. Raisi assumed office in August 2021, succeeding the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani. Known for his hardline stance, Raisi always wore a black turban, signifying his descent from Prophet Muhammad. He was a staunch critic of Rouhani’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, including the United States, and continued to enrich uranium to near-weapons-grade levels during his tenure.
What Marked Raisi’s Presidency?
Raisi’s term was marked by significant domestic turmoil and mounting tensions with the West. Massive protests erupted in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code. Initially focused on women’s rights, the protests soon broadened into calls for the fall of the Islamic government. Iranian security forces responded with a violent crackdown, killing more than 500 people and arresting thousands between September 2022 and January 2023, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
What Was the Impact of the Protests?
The 2022 protests also led to a sharp increase in executions. According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty, at least 834 people were executed in 2023 compared to 582 in 2022. As of this year, 226 people have been executed, based on IHR’s tally. Raisi, closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused foreign actors of instigating the unrest. He claimed that after failing with military interventions and sanctions, the US and its allies had turned to destabilization tactics.
What Was Raisi’s Stance on International Relations?
Raisi supported Hamas’ surprise assault on southern Israel on October 7, which sparked the war in the Gaza Strip. Iran’s regional proxies, including Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis, launched attacks against Israeli interests. Last month, Raisi praised Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel and vowed a “massive and harsh” response to any Israeli retaliation. On April 13, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, retaliating for a suspected Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate, which killed at least seven people, including two IRGC commanders.
What Were Raisi’s Achievements in Diplomacy?
Under Raisi’s leadership, Iran reached a landmark agreement to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia after a seven-year rupture. The deal was mediated by China and represented a significant diplomatic achievement, indicating Raisi’s ability to navigate complex international relations despite his hardline stance.
What Were the Early Years and Career of Raisi?
Ebrahim al-Raisi was born on December 14, 1960, in the Noghan district of Mashhad. In 1983, he married Jamileh Alamolhoda, the daughter of ultraconservative Shiite cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda, who is closely connected to Khamenei. The couple had two daughters. Raisi received a religious education, attending a seminary in Qom at 15 and later Shahid Motahari University in Tehran, where he reportedly earned a doctorate in Islamic jurisprudence and law, though this has been contested by his opponents.
What Was Raisi’s Role Before Becoming President?
Raisi’s involvement in the 1978-79 events leading to the Islamic Revolution, which toppled the Western-backed shah, marked the beginning of his political career. In 1985, he was appointed deputy prosecutor in Tehran, and in 1988, he was a member of a committee that oversaw the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners accused of collaborating with Iraq during the First Gulf War. Human Rights Watch documented “overwhelming evidence” of these executions amounting to “crimes against humanity” in a 2022 report.
Why Was Raisi Sanctioned by the US?
In November 2019, the US imposed sanctions on Raisi for alleged human rights violations, including his role in the 1988 executions. These sanctions reflected the international community’s concerns about his hardline policies and human rights record.
What Is the Legacy of Ebrahim al-Raisi?
Raisi’s presidency was characterized by a blend of domestic repression, international confrontations, and significant diplomatic achievements. His sudden death in a helicopter crash has left a complex legacy marked by both controversy and significant political moves, reflecting the turbulent nature of his tenure as Iran’s president.
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