After Iranian state media confirmed President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash, all eyes were on who will replace him. It has now been revealed that Mohammad Mokhber will take over as the new president. Mokhber is Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's aide.
President Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were flying to Tabriz after inaugurating the Qiz Qalasi Dam on Azerbaijan border
Iranian constitution stipulates that when the sitting president dies, the first vice president will assume charge as the temporary leader with the approval of the supreme leader. Currently, Mokhber who is the first vice president will become the temporary leader. A new presidential election will be announced within the next 50 days under supervision of judiciary chief Ghollamhossein Mohseni Ezhei and the parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Who is Mohammad Mokhber?
Mohammad Mokhber, 69, was a former officer on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has close ties to Khamenei. He was the former head of Setad, a state-owned foundation that manages properties abandoned after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In 2010, Mokhber was sanctioned by the European Union over alleged involvement in nuclear and ballistic missile activities. He was removed from the sanctions list after two years. In 2013, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Setad and its affiliates.
Mokhber was reportedly part of negotiations with Russia last year when they discussed deals to supply drones and surface-to-surface missiles.
