Iran’s ex-foreign minister calls US “main culprit” behind President Raisi’s death

Iran’s former foreign minister Javad Zarif has blamed the United States for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his eight-member staff in a helicopter crash in the mountains of the east Azerbaijan province on Monday. 

In an interview, Javad held the US responsible for the tragic accident as Washington's sanctions have restricted Iran from buying new and modern aircraft. 

“One of the main culprits of yesterday’s tragedy is the United States, which ... embargoed the sale of aircraft and aviation parts to Iran and does not allow the people of Iran to enjoy good aviation facilities,” the state-run IRNA news agency quoted Zarif as saying

“These will be recorded in the list of US crimes against the Iranian people,” he added.

International media reported that Raisi flew in a Bell 212 helicopter, which was acquired by the Iranian military in the 1970s during the last years of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s reign.

Iran operates various helicopters, most dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and international sanctions have complicated obtaining spare parts.

Among those who lost their lives in the tragedy were Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, three crew members and a Revolutionary Guard official.

The crash occurred days after Iran fired missiles at Israel, amid growing international pressure on Raisi, who became president in 2021 and has maintained a hardline stance on international and domestic issues.

The 63-year-old Raisi was in Azerbaijan early on Sunday to inaugurate a dam alongside his counterpart Ilham Aliyev. After the ceremony, Raisi and his entourage departed in a convoy of three helicopters to inaugurate another project, losing contact shortly after departure.

"At around 1 pm, the president left Tabriz to inaugurate two projects, but the helicopter lost contact shortly after leaving," the head of the search and rescue teams, Mohsen Mansouri told the media.

"Three helicopters left Tabriz, but, half an hour later, two lost contact with the one carrying the president," he added.