Former Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif Blames U.S. Sanctions for Helicopter Crash

Iran’s former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has blamed U.S. sanctions for contributing to the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of all on board, including the recently deceased Iranian President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Zarif stated that the U.S. is

one of the main culprits of yesterday’s tragedy due to sanctions that have restricted the supply of aircraft and aviation parts to Iran.

He asserted that this incident would be

recorded in the list of US crimes against the Iranian people.

The crash site was identified early Monday morning, with Turkish authorities releasing drone footage that showed what appeared to be a fire in a remote wilderness area.

The coordinates placed the fire approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on a steep mountain slope.

Later, footage from Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, confirmed the location, showing soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language pointing out the wreckage across a steep valley in a lush, green mountain range.

There it is, we found it, one soldier said.

Iranian state TV announced that Ali Bagheri Kani, a prominent nuclear negotiator, will serve as the acting foreign minister in the wake of Raisi’s untimely death.

The tragedy has elicited an outpouring of condolences from neighbouring countries and international allies.

Pakistan declared a day of mourning, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Iran in a post on X, stating,

India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.

Leaders from Egypt and Jordan also conveyed their sympathies, and Syrian President Bashar Assad extended his condolences.

Lebanon and Syria have declared three days of mourning in honour of the deceased.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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