Photo: Collected
The United States see no evidence of foul play in the helicopter crash that took the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials.
Earlier on Monday (20 May), Iranian Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed media reports that Raisi and his delegation, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on Sunday.
The official pointed out that he agrees with comments made by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s on Sunday that there seems to be no evidence of foul play.
The Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation and is watching for reports where the Iranian government would try to pin the blame on the United States and Israel, the official also said.
Such comments were made earlier on Monday by former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who blamed US sanctions on the a scarce availability of aviation parts and for the crash itself.
However, no significant changes to US-Iran relations are expected after the accident.
On Sunday, a helicopter carrying Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian and their companions crashed in northwestern Iran as the delegation was returning from a visit to Azerbaijan. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will serve as head of state for the next 50 days until a new presidential election is held.
Messenger/Mumu
