Iran had requested the U.S. for assistance to locate the helicopter that crashed with President Raisi on board. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. in his daily briefing admitted.
The helicopter crashed in the mountains near the Azerbaijan border.
However, Miller said in a news briefing that Washington could not assist with Iran’s request.
“Ultimately, largely for logistical reasons, we were unable to provide that assistance,” Miller said.
Iran has not provided any official word on the crash of the US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
The wreckage of the helicopter that crashed on Sunday was found early on Monday. Iranian officials have confirmed Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers were on board.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. had no part to play in the crash.
“I can’t speculate on what may have been the cause.”
Austin said the crash would not have any immediate security implications in the Middle East.
“I don’t necessarily see any broader, regional security impact at this point.”
Under Iran’s constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 50 days.
Meanwhile, Iran proclaimed five days of mourning for hardline President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday. But the public grief seen over the deaths of other senior figures in the Islamic Republic’s 45-year history was missing.
Government loyalists packed into mosques and squares to pray for Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. But most shops remained open, and the authorities made little effort to interrupt ordinary life.
Hundreds of Iranians died in 2022-2023 demonstrations sparked by the death of a young Iranian Kurdish woman arrested by morality police.
(REUTERS)
