Iran’s Supreme Leader proclaims five days of mourning, appoints Mokhber as the interim president

DUBAI: Following President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared five days of public mourning and named First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the interim head of the executive branch.

Iran now has 50 days at most to go before holding a presidential election to select Raisi’s replacement.

“I extend my condolences to the beloved Iranian people and declare five days of public mourning,” Khamenei stated in a statement transcribed by the official news agency IRNA.

He stated, “Mokhber will oversee the executive branch and is required to coordinate the selection of a new president with the leaders of the legislative and judicial branches in no more than 50 days.”

A council made up of the speaker of parliament, the first vice president, and the head of the judiciary is tasked with laying the groundwork for the election of a new president of Iran, as per Article 131 of the constitution.

As with Raisi, Mokhber is regarded as being near Khamenei, who has the final say in all affairs of state.

When Raisi won the presidency in 2021, Mokhber was elected as the first vice president.