The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has confirmed the demise of its President, Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi. This announcement comes after hours of search and rescue operation in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran where the helicopter carrying the president and others crashed on Sunday.

“The supporter of the world’s oppressed, the servant of the people of Iran, Ayatollah Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was martyred on the way to serving the people,” the Government stated in a post on X.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also reportedly on board when the helicopter went down.

Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi was on a one-day trip to the Parsabad region, Ardabil province of Moghan Sunday where he inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam together with the President of Azerbaijan.

Raisa served as eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his death in 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock and sadness at the loss of the leader. “His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered,” Modi stated.

Offering his condolence to Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi’s family and the people of Iran, PM Modi affirmed that “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”