Photos: How Iranian President Raisi & others died in helicopter crash

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, 63, died alongside Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and two senior local officials on board the helicopter on 19 May.

Raisi was confirmed dead after hours of frantic searching through a foggy mountainous region. 

Iran’s interior minister Ahmed Vahidi confirmed earlier to state TV that one of the helicopters in a convoy carrying President Raisi, 63, suffered a “hard landing” – adding that rescue teams struggled to reach the site due to ongoing difficult weather conditions. 

The confirmation of Mr Raisi’s death came through state TV and a government-run news agency early on Monday morning. 

*On Sunday night, Iranians had been urged to collectively pray for their president, while state TV aired prayers for his safety as well as showing worshipers praying for his health in the holy city of Mashhad. An event taking place to mark the death of Raisi in London on Friday ended in a clash between pro-Iran supporters and anti-Iranian government protesters.

With tributes and reactions pouring in from other countries around the world, here’s what we know about Mr Raisi and his time in office.