[Profile] Iran’s President Raisi who died in Helicopter crash

The 63-year-old Mr Raisi, a figure representing conservative and hardline factions in Iranian politics, was president for nearly three years, and “appeared on track to run for re-election next year,” according to Al Jazeera.

A former chief justice, Mr Raisi was touted as a potential successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, the 85-year-old supreme leader of Iran.

Mr Raisi was born in Mashhad in northeastern Iran, a religious hub for Shia Muslims. He underwent religious education and was trained at the seminary in Qom, studying under prominent scholars, including Mr Khamenei.

He became president in 2021 amid low voter turnout and wide disqualification of reformist and moderate candidates.

Like other top Iranian officials, his harshest rhetoric was reserved for Israel and the United States, followed by their Western allies.

Mr Raisi made many speeches since the start of the war in Gaza to condemn “genocide” and “massacres” committed by Israel against Palestinians, and called on the international community to intervene