Iran's cyber police charge dozens for 'insulting' Raisi

They also reported finding the bodies of Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian close together but were barred from publishing any videos for "security reasons."

The search operation, which lasted over 15 hours, only concluded successfully with the aid of a night-vision drone provided by Turkey. The long delay in locating the helicopter, which also carried six others, intensified criticism of the Iranian government's efficiency, even in handling crises involving its top leaders.

Speculation about the cause of the crash is rampant, with theories ranging from an outlandish plot by Israel to more credible possibilities such as severe weather conditions.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's former foreign minister, controversially attributed the crash to US sanctions that restrict Iran’s access to essential aviation parts. In a Monday interview, Zarif stated, "One of the culprits behind the tragedy is the United States."

The helicopter, a 1970s-era US Bell chopper, had been in service since the monarchy, later confiscated by the government for official use. Observers point out that despite Iran's strong ties with nations like Russia and China, the regime has failed to modernize or adequately maintain its aviation fleet, raising questions about the true state of its domestic military and governmental transport capabilities.

The issue comes while Iran continues to fund billions of dollars to proxies around the region including arming and training Yemen’s Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah with state-of-the-art missiles.

Mohammad Aghamiri, a Tehran City Council member and its Civil Committee chairman, said on Tuesday that speculation is rife about the circumstances surrounding President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash.

“There has been speculation that it may not have been an accident, so the security and military forces should investigate this issue,” Aghamiri stated.

State media presented numerous conflicting accounts in the immediate aftermath of the crash. This, along with the reported disregard for protocols—specifically issuing a permit during a weather amber warning—and Raisi’s significant role as the potential next Supreme Leader, has led to questions about whether this was merely an accident.

'Reformist' politician and MP Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the approval of Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter flight, citing adverse weather conditions.

Pezeshkian expressed surprise that a permit was issued despite warnings about poor weather prior to the crash.

The fatal helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi in Iran's remote western mountains occurred under heavy fog, which persisted for over 15 hours.

Narjes Soleimani, a Tehran City Council member and daughter of slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, has proposed renaming "Soleimani Highway" in Tehran in honor of Raisi.

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The head of the Tehran City Council, Mehdi Chamran, rejected the proposal and said "an appropriate street" would be named after him. “[For] every martyr, there is a place.”

Tehran's east-west highway, previously called “Resalat,” was renamed Soleimani when the commander was killed in 2020 on the order of then-US President Donald Trump.

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A video has surfaced on social media, purportedly showing a group of Gazans celebrating the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi while handing out sweets.

Hamas expressed its condolences on Monday for the sudden sdeath of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Gazans, however, told AFP on Monday that Raisi’s legacy is marred by his inaction regarding the Palestinian territory's problems.

“He never supported us, never kept his promises, never called for a ceasefire, and never stood by us. He does not concern us at all,” said Naji Khodeir, a Gazan resident.

“He means nothing to us and nothing to Gaza,” said ΒilalKhodary, a displaced Gazan.

Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel was hailed by Iran, which financially and militarily supports the militant group. However, Tehran denies any involvement in the attack that sparked an ongoing conflict that has resulted in more than 35,000 deaths.

A similar video shows people from Syria cheering Raisi's death.