Iran's Vice President Mohammad Mokhber named president after helicopter crash kills Raisi

Tehran (AFP): Iran’s supreme leader appointed the country's first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as acting president on Monday after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement in a condolence message he shared for Raisi's death in the crash Sunday. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, a hard-liner close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who confronted the West while overseeing indirect talks with the US over the country's nuclear programme, also died in the crash.

Iran’s Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber on Sunday also left Tehran for Tabriz, which is also located in the East Azerbaijan province. According to the Iranian constitution, Mokhber is slated to take over the country’s presidential duties in the event of Raisi’s death.