Mohammad Mokhber to Succeed Ebrahim Raisi as Iran's Interim President

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash. As per the Iranian constitution, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume the presidency in an interim capacity. Mokhber, who has close ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, previously headed Setad, a state-owned foundation. A council consisting of Mokhber, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Ghollamhossein Mohseni Ezhei is tasked with organizing a new presidential election within 50 days.

Mokhber's interim presidency must receive approval from Supreme Leader Khamenei. This transition occurs at a critical time for Iran, as the country has recently escalated tensions with an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel and advanced its uranium enrichment. Mokhber, born in 1955, was appointed as the first vice president in 2021 and holds a Ph.D. in international law. He has been sanctioned by both the European Union and the U.S. Treasury Department for alleged involvement in nuclear and ballistic missile activities.