A comprehensive investigation into the helicopter crash that resulted in the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in May has concluded that poor weather conditions were the primary cause of the tragedy. The accident occurred when the helicopter, transporting the 63-year-old Raisi and his entourage, crashed into a foggy mountainside in northern Iran. Raisi and seven others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, lost their lives in the incident, prompting calls for swift elections.

The report from the General Staff and Headquarters General Staff of Iran indicates that “the complex climatic and atmospheric conditions in the region during spring” were the main contributing factors to the accident. A significant factor highlighted was the “sudden onset of dense and rising fog,” which led to the helicopter colliding with the mountainside. According to the report, there was no evidence of sabotage in the helicopter’s parts or systems.

In May, the Iranian military also stated that there was no evidence of criminal activity related to the crash. Last month, the Fars News Agency cited bad weather as the primary cause of the accident on May 19, while also noting the helicopter’s inability to take off with two additional passengers, contrary to safety protocols. However, the communications center of the General Staff responsible for publicizing information regarding the crash investigation asserted that Fars’ report was “completely false.”

Raisi, known for his tough political stance, was elected president in 2021 and had long been viewed as a natural successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran.