Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Helicopter Crash: Consequences and Implications

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash. This information was reported by the media on the morning of 20 May.

Alongside him, all seven other passengers also perished, including the Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, a provincial governor Malik Rahmeti, and his deputy, Ali Hashemi.

The American-made Bell 212 helicopter, on which they were returning from Azerbaijan, crashed in the mountains.

Officials stated that the aircraft collided with a mountain peak, and dense fog and poor weather conditions likely contributed to the tragedy.

Even the rescue operation, conducted at night amid a snowstorm, proved challenging for the rescuers. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Hossein Kolivand, reported that when rescuers reached the crash site, there were no signs of life among the helicopter’s passengers.

The IRNA news agency released footage of the bodies being retrieved from the crash site.

The media coverage of this event followed the usual pattern seen in authoritarian regimes: an initial flood of contradictory reports, followed by an eventual acknowledgment of the facts.

In the first hours after the helicopter lost contact, reports claimed that the helicopter had made an emergency landing and that President Raisi had been evacuated.

These reports were later retracted, and other conflicting stories emerged, such as the helicopter being found and contact being established with two passengers.

All this occurred while diplomatic sources in the West and Israeli intelligence services had already concluded that Raisi and his companions had perished.

The death of two senior state officials in such a catastrophe would typically cause alarm and unrest both domestically and internationally. However, in this case, the European Union, in its effort to maintain diplomatic decorum, extended condolences.

These words from European Council President Charles Michel were addressed to the families of the deceased, not to the people of Iran, who have already suffered significantly under the Iranian leadership.

The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families.

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) May 20, 2024

Globally, the response was more of relief and joy. A glance at the first comments under Michel’s statement reveals this sentiment.

One notable comment was from a blogger using the nickname Sir Michel, who focuses on topics like Europe, society, politics, environment, photography, music production, and art. He wrote, “Silence would have been the best response in this case.”

Silence would have been the best response.

— Sir Michael (@michaelvlueder) May 20, 2024

This sentiment was echoed by others who expressed that the European Union’s actions were shameful.  People questioned why condolences should be extended to the relatives of mass murderers instead of the victims.

In Iran, on the evening of May 19th, citizens launched fireworks upon hearing about the helicopter crash involving Raisi.

This image starkly contrasts with claims that the entire nation mourns and prays deeply for their leader. The truth is, the incident was seen as good news for the civilised world.

The Iranian regime is viewed as a supporter of some of the worst forces on the planet, such as Russia, North Korea, and China’s party bureaucracy. The deaths of two high-ranking officials in this detestable regime at least temporarily reduce their capacity for malevolence and scheming.

Raisi, in particular, had earned the nickname “Butcher of Tehran” since 1988 for his role in the massacre of political prisoners. During that time, between several thousand and 30,000 people were executed without trial, in violation of even the draconian laws of Iran. The Iranian government still denies these events ever occurred.

However, the world bore witness to what can only be described as genuine mass atrocities, among the most egregious in Iran’s history. Dubbed by the Western press as the paramount crime against humanity, the events sparked international outcry and legal proceedings.

In July 2022, the Stockholm District Court handed down a life sentence to former Iranian prison official Hamid Nouri, holding him accountable for his role in the massacre that unfolded 35 years prior.

During the trial in the Swedish capital, the full extent of the atrocities was officially documented, shedding light on the horrors that had previously been obscured.

The proceedings revealed the existence of a clandestine body known as the “Death Committee,” comprised of six individuals, whose modus operandi bore chilling similarities to Stalinist troikas. Operating in secrecy, they issued swift and irrevocable judgments without affording the accused the basic rights of defence or appeal, rendering a person’s fate in mere minutes.

Of significant note is the involvement of Ebrahim Raisi, who assumed the presidency of Iran in 2021. At the tender age of 25, he was a member of one such “Death Committee,” concurrently serving as deputy prosecutor in Tehran.

This dark chapter marked the genesis of a career steeped in the regime’s atrocities, propelling him up the social hierarchy until he ascended to the presidency at the age of 60.

Raisi’s tenure has been marred by calls for harsher enforcement of morality laws, suppression of anti-government dissent, and a dubious stance on nuclear negotiations with global powers.

Despite outward appearances suggesting a desire to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions, his actions hinted at a clandestine agenda to expand it, potentially culminating in the acquisition of nuclear weapons for the regime.

Amidst these horrors, countless young girls, some barely in their teenage years, found themselves imprisoned or subjected to torture for the most trivial transgressions, such as improper dress.

The wave of protests that swept through Iran in recent years, while ultimately futile against the regime’s formidable armed forces, underscored the palpable dissent simmering beneath the surface, challenging the very foundations of the Islamic theocracy.

The stark juxtaposition between life in Iran under its theocratic regime and the freedoms enjoyed in the civilised world outside its borders is a poignant reality for every young person in the country.

While Iranians grapple with limited freedom of expression and economic prosperity, President Raisi, alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the political establishment, has actively sought to disrupt the global order.

Raisi’s meeting with his ideological counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the “Moscow butcher,” in July 2022, underscored Iran’s willingness to engage in collaborations that challenge international norms.

Their handshake symbolised more than a mere diplomatic gesture; it sealed a military aid deal, with Tehran providing munitions and arms to the Kremlin. This exchange of weaponry served as a tangible manifestation of Raisi and his associates openly collaborating with Russia, a move that reverberated beyond borders.

The Iranian regime’s readiness to supply Russia with advanced military technology, including deadly Shahed drones and the means for their production, has had dire consequences. These machines of terror have been wielded in conflicts far from Iranian soil, including in Ukraine, where they have been used to perpetrate atrocities against innocent civilians, including pregnant women.

Such actions underscore the Iranian regime’s commitment to projecting power and influence beyond its borders through direct foreign policy and military aggression against sovereign states. The recent drone attack on Israel originating from Iran serves as yet another reminder of the regime’s nefarious intentions and its readiness to destabilise the region.

Despite Iran’s attempts to flex its military muscle, its effectiveness on the battlefield has been called into question. In recent conflicts, including attacks on Israel and engagements in Syria, Iranian weaponry has failed to achieve its intended objectives, largely due to the technological superiority of Western-aligned forces.

Nevertheless, the flow of Iranian arms, including Shahed drones, into Russia continues unabated, serving as a testament to the regime’s determination to pursue its agenda regardless of international condemnation.

This arms trade has had far-reaching consequences, including contributing to the virtual paralysis of shipping in the Red Sea, where Iranian proxies such as the Houthis have targeted civilian vessels with devastating consequences.

Despite mounting pressure, particularly from Western powers, the United States has refrained from launching large-scale operations against the Iranian regime or its proxies.

However, Raisi and his supporters’ ultimate goal appears to be the acquisition of nuclear weapons, a prospect that has alarmed the international community and heightened tensions in the region.

At the same time, it appears that the stern warnings issued by Washington and Israel were effective in deterring Tehran from crossing the perceived red line. Yet, regardless of the Iranian regime’s intentions, their plans have been disrupted by the sudden death of their leader.

The circumstances surrounding the plane crash, which are still under investigation, have raised questions about whether it was indeed an accident as officially stated. Setting aside conspiracy theories and speculations, it’s crucial to focus on the implications for Iran’s future trajectory.

With the passing of their leader, Iran finds itself with Mohammad Mokhber as the temporary president. At 68 years old, Mokhber, who previously visited Moscow in October 2023 to negotiate the supply of missiles and drones for the Russian military, assumes a pivotal role.

However, this move indicates that Mokhber may not represent a departure from his predecessor’s policies. Alongside the Speaker of Parliament and the head of the judiciary, Mokhber will play a crucial role in organising new presidential elections within 50 days of Raisi’s demise.

Despite the upheaval caused by leadership changes, the Iranian regime remains resilient, largely upheld by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the spiritual authority of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Raisi’s death, coupled with the loss of experienced diplomat Foreign Minister Abdollahian, is expected to disrupt Iran’s operational dynamics, potentially more so than the recent elimination of General Mohammad Zadeh by Israel, who was responsible for external operations.

It’s essential to recognise that any destabilisation within Iran, such as the loss of key figures, serves to benefit Tehran’s adversaries and disrupt its interactions with allies, including Russia.

As the primary beneficiary of Iran’s aggressive policies, Russia’s recent dispatch of two emergency planes to support the response to the helicopter crash underscores the depth of their relationship.

However, underlying this gesture is the grief of Vladimir Putin, who has just lost close allies in the incident.

There remains a glimmer of hope that, similar to the fate of Iran’s government aircraft, Russia’s government fleet may suffer under the weight of Western sanctions.

This could potentially lead to the removal of more of these dangerous leaders from the world stage, as they have shown no inclination to relinquish their grip on power voluntarily.

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