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Explainer | How Ebrahim Raisi’s death could affect Iran’s leadership, politics and regional ties
- Tehran has stressed political continuity, even as analysts caution that a ‘harsh struggle’ is expected in the race to become Iran’s next president
- Raisi’s death has also reignited speculation over who exactly will succeed the 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s next supreme leader
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The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, in a helicopter accident has plunged the Islamic Republic into uncertainty, raising questions about the transfer of power amid escalating regional tensions and a complex political landscape.
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The wreckage of the helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others was found on Monday in mountains near the Azerbaijan border after a challenging search in a blizzard, according to officials.
Raisi, a hardline cleric, was elected president in 2021. He was known for his efforts to enforce stricter morality laws in Iran, culminating in a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2022, predominantly led by women advocating for an end to theocracy.
On foreign policy, Raisi pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers and expanded Iran’s ties with Russia, China and India through a “Look East” strategy.
His death also comes as tensions rise in the region over the war in Gaza, with Iran supporting groups claiming to resist Israel and US influence in the Middle East.
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To understand the potential ramifications of Raisi’s unexpected death on Iran’s domestic and foreign policy, it is essential to examine the country’s political landscape, process of succession, and its broader regional and international relations.
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