General Staff dismisses speculation on crash that killed former Iranian president

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has rejected speculation surrounding the helicopter crash that tragically claimed the life of former President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in May 2024.

In a statement issued on January 18, the General Staff addressed the unfounded claims circulating in the virtual space, Caliber.Az reports citing Iranian media.

The statement categorically dismissed the "irresponsible comments" made about the cause of the crash, stressing that these claims were "out of touch with reality" and stemmed from "ignorance, lack of knowledge or with specific purposes."

According to the General Staff, three official reports confirmed that the crash was a result of "complicated atmospheric and geographical conditions of the region" where the incident occurred. The statement explicitly rejected speculation regarding technical failure, sabotage, terrorist attack, blast, or electronic warfare as potential causes.

On May 19, 2024, President Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other individuals, tragically lost their lives when their helicopter crashed into the mountains and caught fire. Raisi was later laid to rest at the Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, located in northeastern Iran.

By Vafa Guliyeva