Speculation is rampant following the death of Iran’s hardline President, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border. Many suspect the crash was an assassination, potentially orchestrated by Israel, Iran’s longtime adversary. Former Member of the European Parliament Nick Griffin hinted at Mossad’s (Israel’s national intelligence agency) involvement, pointing to broader geopolitical tensions beyond the obvious Gaza/Hezbollah/Iran/Israel conflicts.
Griffin noted in a social media post that Raisi had recently inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi hydroelectric dam with Azerbaijan’s president, a project celebrated as a symbol of cooperation despite political disagreements. He suggested that improved relations between Iran and Azerbaijan could ease regional tensions, which might threaten Israel’s lucrative arms sales to Azerbaijan, a factor he believes could motivate Israeli interference.
Iranian state media confirmed Raisi’s death, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others, following the crash in a foggy, mountainous area. Amid suspicions and accusations circulating online, some users labeled Raisi a key strategist in Iran’s proxy wars and a brutal suppressor of dissent.
While questions about domestic enemies and Israel’s potential involvement persist, no concrete evidence has emerged linking Israel to the crash. Israeli officials have not commented on the incident.
Raisi, regarded as a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was a prominent figure in Iran’s Shiite theocracy and a possible successor to Khamenei. His career was marked by controversy, including sanctions from the US and EU for his role in the mass executions of prisoners in 1988 and crackdowns on anti-government protests.
Raisi’s political journey began in Mashhad, where he was born on December 14, 1960. After his father’s death when he was five, Raisi studied in the Shiite holy city of Qom and eventually became an Ayatollah. Following the Islamic revolution, he pursued a legal career, serving on a committee that sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death during the Iran-Iraq war. He held several key judicial positions, including deputy chief of the judiciary and prosecutor-general.
Raisi first ran for president in 2017, losing to Hassan Rouhani. He later became judiciary chief and won the 2021 presidential election in a controversial vote with low turnout and significant disqualifications of opponents. Raisi remained unapologetic about the 1988 executions during his tenure, which involved sham retrials of political prisoners.
As president, Raisi endorsed uranium enrichment and resisted international inspections, escalating tensions with the West. He also supported aggressive actions against Israel, including a massive assault involving drones and missiles in retaliation for the killing of Iranian generals in Syria. Raisi’s tenure saw increased crackdowns on dissent, particularly after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent nationwide protests.
Despite the controversy surrounding his death, Raisi’s legacy as a staunch defender of Iran’s theocratic and hardline policies remains significant. The investigation into the helicopter crash and its potential implications continues to unfold.
