Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi declared dead in helicopter crash!

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian were declared dead following a helicopter crash on Sunday near Jolfa, close to the Azerbaijan border. The crash site, discovered 12 hours later by rescuers, showed no signs of life. Heavy rain, fog, and wind were cited as the causes, with some reports describing the crash as a "hard landing." Onboard were nine individuals, including Raisi, Abdollahian, the Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan, Tabriz's Friday prayer Imam, a pilot, copilot, crew chief, head of security, and a bodyguard. The Bell 212 helicopter, designed for multiple uses including police, medical transport, and firefighting, was the aircraft involved. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reassured the nation of continued stability in state affairs despite the tragedy. International concern and offers of assistance poured in from countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union. The EU also activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in search efforts. The incident has prompted a significant response from Iran's army and elite Revolutionary Guards in the ongoing rescue and recovery operations.