Highlights
* Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, state media confirms.
* Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also died in the crash, along with several other individuals.
* Raisi was en route to the city of Tabriz in north-western Iran after visiting the Iran-Azerbaijan border area, according to local media.
* Rescuers who reached the crash site in north-western Iran initially reported "no sign of life."
* The incident triggered a massive search operation that was hampered by adverse weather conditions.
Iranian state media said President Ebrahim Raisi died on Monday (May 20) after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country. The government has not yet issued a confirmation of the leader's death.
Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.
Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died.
"The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people," state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.
PM mourns death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the entourage in an Iranian helicopter accident. "I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the sad demise of President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and members of the entourage in the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying them," she said.
Sheikh Hasina conveyed her condolence in a letter wrote to First Vice-President of Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber. She said, "In this hour of grief, on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I convey our deepest condolences to the Government and the brotherly people of Iran”.
The premier mentioned that President Raisi was a wise and selfless leader who served his country with deep commitment and worked for the well-being of the People of Iran.. "He was a great leader of international stature and his exemplary leadership and accomplishments will remain as a lasting legacy for us," she added.
The PM offered her prayers for seeking divine blessing for the departed souls and for bestowing courage and fortitude on the bereaved family members and brotherly people of Iran to overcome the irreparable loss.
