Iran has found no signs of foul play in the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others, according to a preliminary army report. The crash, which occurred during Raisi’s return from a dam inauguration near the Azerbaijan border on Sunday, shows no evidence of any criminal activity
A preliminary report by the general staff of the armed forces, published by the official IRNA news agency, stated, “No bullet holes or similar impacts were observed on the helicopter wreckage.” The report clarified that the helicopter caught fire after colliding with an elevated area. It also noted, “No suspicious content was observed during the communications between the watch tower and the flight crew.”
The helicopter was on a pre-planned route and did not deviate from its designated flight path before the crash. The wreckage was discovered by Iranian drones early on Monday, but the challenging terrain, fog, and low temperatures hampered the search and rescue operations.
The army emphasized that “more time is needed” to fully investigate the crash and promised to release more details in the future.
President Raisi, 63, was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday, following days of nationwide mourning and funeral ceremonies in major cities, including the capital, Tehran. Thousands of mourners attended the ceremonies to pay their respects.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who also perished in the crash, was buried on Thursday in Shahre Ray, a town south of Tehran.
The investigation continues as Iran seeks to uncover the precise cause of this tragic accident.