The helicopter transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials lost contact roughly 30 minutes after takeoff.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, according to Iranian media reports. The helicopter, carrying President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, disappeared over a mountainous area.

Iran’s state television reported that there were no signs of life among the helicopter’s passengers. “Upon finding the helicopter, there was no indication that any of the passengers had survived,” the state TV broadcast stated.

This tragic incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly due to the Gaza conflict and Iran’s recent escalations with Israel. President Raisi, who has served since 2021, had recently reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for Palestine during a speech at a dam inauguration.

Iranian state media shared videos of President Raisi on board the helicopter on Sunday. The footage shows him looking out of the aircraft window, with several senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, seated opposite him.