President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash

President of Iran from 2021 to 2024

Politics & GovernmentDied on This DayDisasters & Accidents

President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

What happened

Ebrahim Raisolsadati, better known as Ebrahim Raisi, was an Iranian cleric and politician who served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Date

May 19, 2024

Location

Tehran, Iran, exact location unknown

Key people

Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian President, and several high-ranking government officials were on board

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed analysis of the Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi, including the circumstances surrounding the accident, the response of the Iranian government, and the implications for the country's political landscape. By examining the crash and its aftermath through the lens of specific events, such as the declaration of a state of emergency and the deployment of security forces, and the reactions of key stakeholders, including the Iranian government, the international community, and the Iranian people, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of Iranian politics and the challenges facing the country in the wake of this devastating event. The article draws on a range of sources, including official statements from the Iranian government, reports from the Iranian news agency, IRNA, and the international news agency, Reuters, and analysis from experts in the field, to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the crash and its aftermath.

What was President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash?

Ebrahim Raisolsadati (14 December 1960 – 19 May 2024), better known as Ebrahim Raisi, was an Iranian cleric and politician who served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2024. A protégé of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and a Principlist, Raisi was the second and most recent Iranian president to die in office after Mohammad-Ali Rajai. Raisi was the son-in-law of Mashhad Friday prayer leader and Grand Imam of Imam Reza shrine, Ahmad Alamolhoda. He began his clerical studies at age 15. In the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Raisi served in several positions in Iran's judicial system, including as Prosecutor of Karaj, Prosecutor of Hamadan and Deputy Prosecutor and Prosecutor of Tehran.

Background and consequences

Raisi was part of the Tehran branch of what has been called the "1988 Iran death commission". Under the direction of Grand Ayatollah Khomeini, thousands of Iranian political prisoners were executed by these commissions, and as a result of his involvement, Raisi earned himself the nickname: "Butcher of Tehran" and was accused by United Nations special rapporteurs and other organizations of crimes against humanity. He was Deputy Chief Justice (2004–2014), Attorney General (2014–2016), and Chief Justice (2019–2021). Raisi was elected to the Assembly of Experts from South Khorasan Province, for the first time in the 2006 election. He was Custodian and Chairman of Astan Quds Razavi, a bonyad, from 2016 until 2019.

Raisi speaking at a presidential campaign rally, 2017

Why it matters

Raisi ran for president in 2017 as the candidate of the conservative Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces, losing to the moderate incumbent president Hassan Rouhani, 57% to 38%. Raisi successfully ran for president a second time in 2021 with 63% of the votes, succeeding Rouhani. Considered a hardliner in Iranian politics, Raisi's presidency saw deadlock in negotiations with the U.S. over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and large-scale protests throughout the country in late 2022, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September. During Raisi's term, Iran intensified uranium enrichment, hindered international inspections, joined SCO and BRICS, and supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

Related on thisDay

Iran Helicopter Crash Kills President Raisi — May 19, 2024

7 killed as President Raisi's helicopter crashes in Tehran in 2024, sparking national turmoil and raising questions about the future of Iran's government.

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Iran Helicopter Crash Kills President Raisi — May 19, 2024 Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/president-raisi-killed-in-helicopter-crash/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/president-raisi-killed-in-helicopter-crash/

Chicago

“President Raisi Killed in Helicopter Crash.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/president-raisi-killed-in-helicopter-crash/.

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