Iran declares five days of national mourning

Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declared on Monday five days of national mourning after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions in a helicopter crash.

The religious and political reference of the Iranian Revolution ratified Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president under Article 131 of the Iranian Constitution.

Khamenei called for Mokhber to work with the heads of Iran’s judiciary and legislative powers to prepare for a presidential election within 50 days.

In this context, Iranian Government Spokesperson Ali Bahadori Jahromi announced that Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed the country’s acting foreign minister.

Earlier, Acting President Mohammad Mokhber emphasized the continuity of President Raisi’s path without interruption during an extraordinary meeting with the heads of the judiciary and legislative powers.

On Monday, Iranian television confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions in a helicopter crash in eastern Azerbaijan.

Born in the Noghan district of Mashhad on December 14, 1960, Ebrahim Raisi defended regional peace and stability from the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran.