Iran’s hardline president dies in helicopter crash

Dubai | Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a top contender to succeed the nation’s supreme leader, was found dead on Monday hours after his helicopter crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s north-west, state media reported.

The helicopter was also carrying Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials who were flying near the Azerbaijan border. The charred wreckage of the helicopter and their bodies were found after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.

Reuters and AP