Iranian news agencies have confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

Tragedy struck Iran as “no survivors” were found at the crash site of the helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, according to reports from Iranian state news agency IRINN and semi-official Mehr News.

Ebrahim Raisi, formerly a hardline judiciary chief, became Iran’s eighth president in 2021 following a notably uncompetitive election. His presidency marked a period of heightened repression of dissent, as noted by human rights organizations.

With Raisi’s death, the line of succession points to First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader holds the ultimate authority over Iran’s domestic and foreign policies, overshadowing the presidential powers.

Unlike his predecessor, the moderate Hassan Rouhani, Raisi maintained a close relationship with Khamenei, with many Iranians speculating that Raisi was being groomed to succeed the ailing 85-year-old Supreme Leader.

PERILOUS TIMING FOR THE TRAGEDY

While the unexpected death of a country’s leader is always traumatic, Raisi’s death comes at an especially perilous time.

The situation in the Middle East is already highly volatile due to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas. This conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza over the past seven months, significantly heightening tensions across the region. The hostilities have also exposed the long-standing, covert conflict between Iran and Israel, making it more visible.

Recently, Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, marking its first direct assault on the country. This was a retaliatory move following a deadly Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which killed a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). In response, Israel targeted locations near Isfahan, Iran, with a measured counterattack. Although direct strikes have ceased, the proxy war continues unabated with Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, still engaging Israeli forces.

Domestically, Iran’s leadership faces significant challenges. The nation has been roiled by widespread dissent and protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police. These protests, driven primarily by the youth, were a reaction against the country’s clerical rule and deteriorating economic conditions exacerbated by years of US-led sanctions. The government’s subsequent crackdown on dissent has been severe, with the United Nations reporting human rights violations that could amount to “crimes against humanity.”

Although these protests have largely subsided, opposition to the clerical leadership remains deeply rooted, particularly among the younger generation who desire reform, economic opportunities, and a shift away from strict religious governance.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a former hardline judiciary chief with a history of human rights abuses, was elected in 2021 in a highly controlled electoral process. Despite his position, his authority is significantly overshadowed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who holds the ultimate power over both domestic and foreign policy in the Islamic Republic.

This intricate backdrop of regional conflict and internal strife adds layers of complexity to the recent helicopter crash, making it a critical incident in an already tumultuous period for Iran and the broader Middle East.

Reporting from the Associated Press and CNN contributed to this article.