Iran’s leaders have picked June 28 as the day for the new presidential election in the country in light of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, state media reported.
IRNA, the Iranian news agency, said the “heads of branches of power” made the decision about the date after “examining the timing of the election process”.
The Iranian constitution states that in similar circumstances a vote must be held within 50 days.
The news agency added the registration of candidates will be allowed between May 30 and June 3, while the election campaign period will be carried out between June 12 and 27.
The vote is not expected to cause a major political upset. Even before Tehran officially confirmed the death of President Raisi, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on the social media platform X “the Iranian people should not worry, there will be no disruption in the country’s affairs”.
On Monday, after the death of President Raisi was confirmed, Mohammad Mokhber was appointed acting president.
He was chosen as vice president in August 2021 by Mr Raisi, shortly after the late president had taken office.
The death of President Raisi seemingly sparked mixed reactions within Iran, with hundreds gathering in Tehran to publicly mourn the death of the leader while others took to social media to celebrate it.
Similar contrasting reactions have been seen around the world, with some world leaders including Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressing condolences while others, including the White House, saying they regret “any loss of life” but accused the politician of having “blood on his hands” due to his “record, both as a judge and as the president of Iran”.
During the same press conference in which he delivered these remarks, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also said Tehran had asked Washington for assistance after the helicopter crash but the US was unable to provide help largely due to logistical reasons.
Iran hasn’t yet offered a cause for the incident nor has suggested that sabotage caused the crash, which happened in mountainous terrain in a sudden, intense fog.
