DUBAI: The helicopter crash in which Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in May was caused by weather conditions and the aircraft’s inability to handle the weight it was carrying, Iran’s semi-official news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a security source informed of the final investigation results.
A preliminary report by Iran’s military had said in May that no evidence of foul play or attack had been found so far during investigations into the crash.
“The investigation in the case of Ayatollah Raisi’s helicopter crash have been completed ... there is complete certainty that what happened was an accident,” the security source that was not named told Fars news agency.
Two reasons for the accident were identified: the weather conditions were not suitable and the helicopter was unable to handle the weight, leading to it crashing into a mountain, the source added, according to Fars.
The investigations indicate that the helicopter was carrying two individuals more than the capacity that security protocols dictate, the source told Fars.
Raisi, a hard-liner and potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border.
Helicopter of Iran’s late President Raisi crashed due to weather, Fars says
https://arab.news/rt6nm
Helicopter of Iran’s late President Raisi crashed due to weather, Fars says
- “The investigation in the case of Raisi’s helicopter crash have been completed ... there is complete certainty that what happened was an accident,” a security source said
US Senate votes to end 'Caesar' sanctions against Syria
- Foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani says the move will 'open new horizons for cooperation' with the world
- Repeal of the sanctions is contained within sweeping defense bill, which sets out a record $901bn in annual military spending
LONDON: The ending of tough US sanctions against Syria moved a step closer on Wednesday when the US Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of a sweeping defense bill.The National Defense Authorization Act, which sets out a record $901 billion in annual military spending, included measures to repeal the “Caesar Act” financial restrictions placed on Damascus.
The sanctions were imposed in 2020 against former President Bashar Assad’s regime over the human-rights abuses carried out during the civil war.
Assad was driven from power a year ago and the new government has worked to end Syria’s international isolation and has won support from President Donald Trump.
Removing US restrictions on trade and investment with the country is seen as a crucial step in helping it recover from the devastating 13-year conflict.
The legislation will now pass to the president who the White House has said will sign it into law.
Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, welcomed the progress of the bill.
“We express our sincere gratitude to the US Senate for its support of the Syrian people through its vote to repeal the Caesar Act,” he wrote on X.“We consider this step a positive development that opens new horizons for cooperation and partnership between our country and the world.”
