Tehran, Iran - May 20, 2024

Storyline:
The Iranian government on Monday announced the investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

On Monday, Iranian rescue teams found the wreckage of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a mountain area of northwest Iran's East Azerbaijan Province. And then Iranian officials announced that President Raisi and the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were all dead in the helicopter crash.

On Monday afternoon, a large number of people gathered in the capital city Tehran, mourning the tragic deaths of Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azarbaijan Province Malek Rahmati and Iran's supreme leader's representative to East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem.

Iran's Securities and Exchange Organization (SEO) has halted its activities on Monday and all cultural and entertainment events were suspended in silent homage to the president's death.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed condolences to the families of victims in the helicopter crash and announced that Iran will hold five days of public mourning.

Khamenei on Monday appointed the country's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president. The presidential election is set to be held on June 28.

In addition, with the approval of the government cabinet, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani was appointed as acting foreign minister.

The president's body would be transferred to his birthplace Mashhad, where his funeral will be held on Thursday.

Shotlist:
FILE: Tehran, Iran - Date Unknown:
1. Iranian national flag;
FILE: Tehran, Iran - July 4, 2023:
2. Various of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaking at 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO;
FILE: Tehran, Iran - June 17, 2023:
3. Various of Raisi meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud;
FILE: Tehran, Iran - April 29, 2023:
4. Raisi speaking at joint news conference held with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid;
Tehran, Iran - May 20, 2024:
5. Various of crowds of people mourning victims of helicopter crash;
6. Various of poster of Iranian President Ebrahim Rais, other victims, wreath;
FILE: Tehran, Iran - April 10, 2023:
7. Various of cityscape, Iranian national flag, traffic.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]