Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash, state media reported on Monday. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the nation and the international community.

According to the semi-official news agency Mehr News, "All the passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred." The helicopter crash occurred on Sunday evening local time in the Varzaqan region of northern Iran. Raisi was returning after inaugurating a dam on Iran’s common border with the Azerbaijan Republic, as reported by state news agency IRNA.

The crash resulted in the deaths of all members of the president’s entourage, including the Governor of East Azarbaijan, Malek Rahmati, and the helicopter crew, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The president’s convoy included three helicopters, two of which landed safely, but communication with Raisi’s helicopter was cut off about half an hour into the flight, as stated by Iran’s Vice President for Executive Affairs, Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi was traveling to Tabriz city to launch an oil project.

Search and rescue operations were initially hampered by inclement weather and difficult terrain, as noted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps’ chief, Pirhossein Koulivand. Drone footage published by state media FARS News Agency showed the helicopter's wreckage on a steep hillside, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by the rescue teams.

The international response to the tragic event has been swift and heartfelt. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media platform X, acknowledging Raisi’s “contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered.” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called Raisi an “extraordinary leader.” Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also expressed his sorrow over the deaths of the president and the others involved in the crash.

Ali Ahmadi, an executive fellow at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” that the consequences of this incident are likely to be contained. Ahmadi noted that President Raisi was a relatively marginal figure in national security decisions, with Iranian foreign policy principally governed by the Office of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian military.

President Raisi, 63, was a hardline conservative politician who was elected president in 2021 after an unsuccessful bid in 2017. He was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. As president, Raisi was known for his strict policies and crackdown on dissent within Iran.

The loss of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian marks a significant moment for Iran. Raisi's presidency was marked by a focus on conservative policies and an effort to strengthen Iran's standing on the international stage. The incident underscores the potential instability within the country's political landscape and raises questions about the future leadership in Iran.