Hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Dies in Tragic Helicopter Crash

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the supreme leader's protege, has died in a helicopter crash at age 63 along with other officials, including the foreign minister. Raisi was a hardline cleric who helped oversee the mass executions of thousands in 1988 and later served as head of the judiciary before becoming president in 2021 in a carefully managed election. The helicopter crashed in foggy, mountainous regions of northwest Iran, and search teams spent hours locating the crash site. Raisi was seen as a protege of Supreme Leader Khamenei and helped clear opposition candidates from the 2021 election. His election occurred during heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, triggered by President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw the U.S. from a nuclear agreement with Iran.