Ebrahim Raisi: What comes next for Iran?

It is no longer secret that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with seven others, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, after the news was confirmed by the government.

The crash occurred in the mountainous region of Varzeghan, near the village of Uzi in East Azerbaijan Province, as the helicopter was returning to Tabriz from a ceremony to open a dam near Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.

However, it is now being reported that the bodies of Ebrahim Raisi and the other victims will be transferred on Tuesday from Tabriz to Mashhad, Raisi’s birthplace.

A large public ceremony will be held at a prayer hall in Tabriz at 4 p.m. local time on Monday. On Tuesday at 9 a.m., a procession will accompany the bodies from Tabriz Martyr’s Square to the airport, from where they will be moved to Mashhad.

Born in Mashhad in 1960, Ebrahim Raisi previously led the powerful charity Astan-e Quds-e Razavi, which manages the Imam Reza shrine, a major Islamic holy site in the city.

Following Raisi’s death, Iran has moved quick to appoint Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as acting president. Ali Bagheri Kani, known for leading Iranian delegations in indirect negotiations with the United States over nuclear issues and prisoner exchanges, has been appointed acting foreign minister, as reported by state news agency IRNA.

In accordance with the Iranian constitution, new elections must be arranged within 50 days of Mokhber assuming the role of acting president. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has tasked Mokhber with organizing these elections.

Ayatollah Khamenei announced five days of public mourning and expressed his condolences. All cultural and arts activities in Iran have been canceled for the next seven days.

The international community has also reacted, with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, and the UAE expressing condolences, and Lebanon declaring three days of mourning. Iran-backed militant groups Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah have also sent their condolences.

The loss of Raisi, a conservative hardliner and protege of Khamenei, is expected to increase uncertainty in Iran, which is already dealing with significant economic and political strain and heightened tensions with Israel.