Mokhber appointed as Iran’s interim president after Raisi’s death
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed on Monday Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president of Iran following the death of Raisi in helicopter crash.
Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA said that this came as Khamenei announced in an official statement five days of public mourning for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
According to Iran’s constitution, the vice president shall assume the powers and functions of the president, with the approval of the Supreme Leader, in case of death, dismissal, resignation, and absence.
Mokhber, 68 years old, became first vice president in August 2021.
Additionally, Iran’s government cabinet appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister following the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian in the crash.
Raisi, Amirabdollahian, and the accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when their helicopter crashed in Varzaqan region.
The wreckage of the helicopter was found by rescue teams in the early hours of Monday.
East Azarbaijan Province’s Governor, Malek Rahmati, head of Raisi’s guard team, Mehdi Mousavi, and Supreme Leader’s representative in the province, Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, were on board the crashed helicopter.