Iran's Armed Forces General Staff has officially concluded that the tragic helicopter crash which claimed the life of former President Ebrahim Raisi on May 19, 2024, was solely due to "complicated weather and geographical conditions."

The statement from the Armed Forces' communication center on Saturday dismisses any other theories, including technical failures, sabotage, terrorism, explosions, or electronic warfare.

The extensive investigation, as detailed by the General Staff, determined that the mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions in Iran’s northwest were the definitive causes behind the accident. The statement lambasted online speculations as baseless, attributing them to ignorance, misinformation, or ulterior motives.

The brother of Raisi's late security chief, in a recent online interview, suggested that the security chief had advised against the trip to the border with Azerbaijan, hinting at potential security concerns. Additionally, Iranian parliamentarian Hamid Rasa’ee expressed skepticism about the incident, noting that "no one has yet been able to erase this question mark" surrounding President Raisi's death.

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others perished when their helicopter crashed and subsequently caught fire in a rugged mountain region. The crash occurred during a trip near Iran's border with Azerbaijan, where the weather was notoriously unpredictable.

Ebrahim Raisi was buried at the Shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, marking a somber end to his tenure and life.

While the official investigation has laid to rest any notions of foul play, the statements from political figures and family members indicate that some questions and doubts about the event continue to linger among the public and within political circles. This incident has left a lasting impact on Iran, both politically and emotionally, as the country mourns its losses while moving forward under new leadership. (ILKHA)