Iran’s state media has confirmed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
The country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also killed in Sunday’s crash, along with several others.
The helicopter – one of three travelling in a convoy – crashed in heavy fog in the north of the country.
Mr Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north-west of Iran, after returning from a dam opening ceremony on the Azerbaijan border.
An election for a new president is now due to take place in the next 50 days.
BBC News says while some world leaders are reacting, many are looking for is any hint from Iran that foul play was behind the incident.
These concerns are being fuelled by recent tensions between Iran and Israel.
Any suspicion of Israeli involvement would likely plunge the region into a fresh crisis.
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