Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, has died in a helicopter crash

In this handout image supplied by the Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi visits the site of a road and rail bridge project over the Aras River, following an inauguration ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, after which his helicopter has reportedly crashed near the city of Jolfa, on the border with Azerbaijan on May 19, 2024 in Jabrayil, Azerbaijan. Credit: Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran via Getty Images

Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, has died in a helicopter crash.

 A senior Iranian official has confirmed to Reuters news agency the president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and the seven other people on board their helicopter are dead.

 Iranian state television reports the helicopter crashed into a mountain peak in icy weather in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, and has been completely burned.

 The cause of the crash of the US-made Bell 2-1-2 helicopter has not been officially revealed.

 63-year-old Ebrahim Raisi had been Iranian President since 2021. His death comes at a time of growing dissent in Iran over an array of social, political, and economic crises.

 68-year-old Vice President Mohammed Mokhber is now the country's interim president.