Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has revealed Iran's reaction to learning that Israel did not orchestrate former President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash death. Raisi died alongside seven others, including his foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, in the crash in a remote mountainous area in northwestern Iran.
Araghchi revealed that Tehran was relieved after the investigation revealed that Israel had no role in the death. "There was no evidence pointing to foreign interference in the May 19, 2024, crash, which also killed former Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several senior officials. Current findings do not indicate any external involvement, nor was the incident the result of a hostile Israeli act," Araghchi told a local TV channel during an interview on the first death anniversary of Raisi.
He then expressed how Tehran was relieved. "Thank God, it has become clear that the martyrdom of martyr Raisi was not the work of Israel," he added. Araghchi's statement came as Iran mourned its former President. The remembrance meeting was attended by Ayatollah Khamenei.
Raisi was a hardliner and was seen as a successor to Khamenei. His death sparked tensions as it came amid acute tensions between Iran and Israel triggered by the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Months later, in September, Iran found out that the main cause of the helicopter crash was the "complex climatic and atmospheric conditions of the region in the spring".
Iran has said that it planned to hold 120,000 commemorative ceremonies across Iran for Raisi’s death. The week-long commemorations will reportedly take place "from Tehran to the depths of villages." Tehran officials said they will also broadcast 12 documentaries on state television and radio networks.
Meanwhile, Iranian leaders who mourned Raisi mentioned how he held indirect meetings with the US, which yielded no results. However, Raisi had made it clear that he would not negotiate directly with the United States.