Connect with us

News

Eight things to know about death of Iranian President Raisi

Published

on

Eight things to know about death of Iranian President Raisi

By Francesca Hangeior

Iranian state-run media have confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash in the province of East Azerbaijan on Sunday as they headed towards the city of Tabriz.

State television said: “The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,”

Advertisement

Here are things to know about death of President Ebrahim Raisi:

1. He was returning with a group from Azerbaijan, where they had attended the inauguration of a dam alongside President Ilham Aliyev, when the helicopter crashed in a mountainous region amid poor weather conditions.

2. The government has yet to make an official statement but the state-run news agency Irna reported that an urgent cabinet meeting had been called and a statement was expected soon.

3. After an hours-long search hampered by fog and rain, rescuers found the burnt-out wreckage of the helicopter on a mountainside. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pir Hossein Kolivand, said as rescuers approached the wreckage, that there were “no signs of life”.

Advertisement

4. A total of nine people were on board the aircraft, according to Tasnim news agency, including the governor of East Azerbaijan, Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to East Azarbaijan province.

5. On Sunday, before the wreckage was found, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to “not worry” about the leadership of the Islamic republic, saying “there will be no disruption in the country’s work”.

6. The President is believed to have been travelling in Bell 212 helicopter.

7. If a President dies in office, article 131 of the Islamic Republic’s constitution says that the first vice-president – in this case Mohammad Mokhber – takes over, with the confirmation of the Supreme Leader, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran.

Advertisement

8. A council consisting of the first Vice-President, the Speaker of parliament and the Head of the judiciary must arrange an election for a new President within a maximum period of 50 days.

What do we know so far about the helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president, others

By Francesca Hangeior

The helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president and foreign minister has sent shock waves around the region.

Advertisement

Iranian state media said on Monday that President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others have been found dead at the site after an hourslong search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.

Here’s what we know so far

The helicopter was carrying Raisi, Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and others officials, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Raisi was returning on Sunday after traveling to Iran’s border with Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev when the crash happened in the Dizmar forest in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province.

Advertisement

Reports have it that the crash killed eight people in all, including three crew members aboard the Bell helicopter, which Iran purchased in the early 2000s.
Aircraft in Iran face a shortage of parts, often flying without safety checks over Western sanctions. Because of that, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sought to blame the United States for the crash.

How did the search operation go?

Iranian officials have said the mountainous, forested terrain and heavy fog impeded search-and-rescue operations, which began on Sunday.

The president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir-Hossein Koulivand, said 40 search teams were on the ground despite “challenging weather conditions.” Because of the bad weather, it was “impossible to conduct aerial searches” via drones, Koulivand said.

Advertisement

How was the crash site found?

Early on Monday, Turkish authorities released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they “suspected to be wreckage of a helicopter.” The coordinates listed in the footage put the fire some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on the side of a steep mountain.

Footage released by IRNA showed what the agency described as the crash site, across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language said: “There it is, we found it.” Shortly after, state TV in an on-screen scrolling text said: “There is no sign of life from people on board.”

How will raisi’s death impact iran?

Advertisement

Raisi was seen as a protégé to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor for his position within the country’s Shiite theocracy.

Under the Iranian constitution, if a president dies, the country’s first vice president — in this case, Mohammad Mokhber — would become president. Khamenei has publicly assured Iranians that there would be “no disruption to the operations of the country” as a result of the crash.

What has the international reaction been?

After the news first broke of the search operation, countries including Russia, Iraq and Qatar made formal statements of concern about Raisi’s fate and offered to assist in the search.

Advertisement

Azerbaijani President Aliyev offered any support necessary. Relations between the two countries have been chilly due to Azerbaijan’s diplomatic relations with Israel, Iran’s regional arch-enemy.

Saudi Arabia, traditionally a rival of Iran although the two countries have recently made a rapprochement, said it stands by “Iran in these difficult circumstances.”

There was no immediate official reaction from Israel. Last month, following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus that killed two Iranian generals, Tehran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. They were mostly shot down and tensions have apparently since subsided.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo

Published

on

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.

Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.

For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.

Advertisement

THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.

He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.

There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….

A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.

Advertisement

The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.

Continue Reading

News

Guber poll :PDP govs storm Edo to support Ighodalo

Published

on

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Barely 24hours to governorship election in Edo State, no fewer than two governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday arrived Benin City.

The governors, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Kefas Agbu of Taraba, arrived the state to mobilise support for the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

Fintiri made this known in a post on his social media page on Friday evening.

Advertisement

He said : “Just touched down in Edo State alongside my brother, Gov. Agbu Kefas, ahead of the September 21st gubernatorial election. We stand united in support of our Official PDP Nigeria candidate, Asue ighodalo, for a brighter future.”

Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the PDP leader in the state, had earlier cried out over alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress to rig the election.

As at the time of filling this report, it was unclear if other PDP governors would also hit the state for the election

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Speed Darlington taunt Burna Boy about his grammy award (+Video)

Published

on

……. As Speed Darlington queries Afrobeats singer, Burna Boy over his Grammy win.

By Ojomah Austin.

 

Controversial Nigerian rapper, Speed Darlington has sparked controversy with his claims that Burna Boy’s Grammy Award win can be attributed to the influential role of American rapper and entrepreneur, P. Diddy.

Advertisement

Amid allegations against US rapper, P.Diddy, resulting in his arrest, Speed Darlington suggested that Burna Boy had an intimate relationship with Diddy which paved the way for him to win the Grammy.

Speed Darlington’s bold and contentious assertion comes amidst recent allegations surrounding Diddy, who was reportedly arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on charges of human trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

In a provocative Instagram video, Speed Darlington credited Diddy for Burna Boy’s rapid ascent to international fame and Grammy success, highlighting the American rapper’s significant impact on Burna Boy’s music career.

Speed Darlington openly challenged Burna Boy to disclose the nature of his relationship with Diddy. Suggesting an amorous relationship between the duo, he blatantly asked Burna Boy to reveal how many bottles of oil Diddy used on his buttocks before he was able to win a Grammy.

Advertisement

In his words:

“It wasn’t long after Burna Boy posted a photo of him and Diddy that he won a Grammy Award. Burna Boy, don’t be offended, but how many oils did Diddy use on your nyash before they gave you the Grammy Award?”.

In response to Speed Darlington’s video, One @oluchukwu_____ wrote: “Akpis confidence need to be studied 😂😂.”

Advertisement

vibe_with_fiona wrote: “When burna comes for him,make una no say burna too do o?”

godson_allsom wrote: “If there is Grammy for comedians 😂 akpi for done win like 10.”

official_kahlan wrote: “Presido I don tire to defend you 😂 ga zu ike 🙄.”

asikosharon50 wrote: “Very anyhow talk, Burnaboy won Grammy for his hard work and talent . If na Diddy dey share Grammy why him own Artist for him label nor dey win the Grammy? Na him be say Tems dey and wizkid sef they nick people dem work with naa, useless talk …”

Advertisement

jaytee_yna wrote: “I’m a big fan of Akpi but this is so irrelevant and irresponsible. Burna’s hardwork & God’s grace gave him the Grammy. Okbye!”

lorah_irez wrote: “If person never bèat akpi he no go rest, wetin be this na 😂😂😂.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News