Summary

  • Funeral rites for Iran's president and seven others who died in a helicopter crash have begun

  • In Tabriz, thousands of people gathered on the streets to mourn President Raisi

  • The funeral procession is now moving to Qom, considered the second most sacred city in Iran after Mashhad

  • But despite the huge crowds, not all Iranians supported the president - and many celebrated his death on social media

  • Raisi's body is expected to be buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, on Thursday

  • This week of mourning will be a test for Iran’s conservative leaders who want to send a clear and convincing signal of continuity

Live Reporting

Edited by Johanna Chisholm and Jack Burgess

  1. The scene from Tabriz

    Here's our first clip from President Ebrahim Raisi's funeral procession in Tabriz. As the footage shows, thousands of people have taken to the streets.

    But it's important to remember not all Iranians supported President Raisi - a hardline cleric who, as deputy prosecutor in Tehran in the 1980s, sat on secret tribunals that became known as the "Death Committee".

  2. How the five days of mourning are unfolding

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    BBC Monitoring

    Lit by candlelight, a group of Iranian men hold photos of the deceased, their faces sombreEPA

    Iran is planning to hold several funeral ceremonies for President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials killed in the helicopter crash.

    The first ceremony began today at 09:30 local time (06:00 GMT) in the north-western city of Tabriz.

    Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri explained in an interview with IRINN that Raisi's body is then going to be moved to the religious city of Qom, where another procession is planned at 16:30 local time (13:00 GMT).

    The bodies will then be taken to the capital city of Tehran, Mansouri says, adding that a funeral ceremony will happen there on Wednesday, with Supreme Leader Khamenei leading congregational prayers for Raisi and others.

    Wednesday has also been announced as a public holiday in Iran.

    According to Mansouri, Raisi's body will next be transferred on Thursday morning to Birjand, the capital of South Khorasan province, where the president had recently been re-elected as representative to the leadership watchdog body Assembly of Experts.

    Raisi's burial ceremony is going to be held in the north-eastern city of Mashhad, in the shrine of the eighth Shia Imam Reza on Thursday evening.

  3. What are the latest developments?

    Iranians, among them women clad in black chadors, hold posters of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as they take part in a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran, 20 May 2024EPA

    Iran declared five days of public mourning after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in north-west Iran alongside seven others, including Tehran's foreign minister. Here's everything else you need to know:

    • Funeral ceremonies for Raisi will be held from Tuesday to Thursday in the cities of Tabriz, Qom, Tehran and Birjand until his final burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Masshad
    • Mohammad Mokhber was appointed as acting president, and Ali Bagheri Kani, who was deputy foreign minister, is now foreign minister
    • In the West, leaders from the EU, Nato and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offered their condolences
    • Iran-backed groups Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, who are proscribed as terrorist organisations by much of the West, have also expressed their condolences
    • “We regret any loss of life,” US State Department Press Secretary Matthew Miller said. But he was emphatic: “That doesn’t change the record... He [Raisi] has blood on his hands”
    • The cause of the helicopter crash remains unclear, but Russia - Tehran's close ally - has offered its help with the investigation
    • Interim President Mokhber addressed a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Monday, with new elections to be held on 28 June
  4. Analysis

    Iran wants to send clear signal of continuity

    Lyse Doucet
    Chief international correspondent

    In the Islamic Republic, a major funeral like this is a moment not just to mourn but to project strength and unity – especially when news of President Ebrahim Raisi’s death was met by scenes of celebration as well as sorrow.

    Iran’s farewell to its president and seven others who died in Sunday’s crash will unfold over a few days and in cities across the country. Iranian officials say there have been requests from many people in many provinces who want to participate in the funeral procession.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will preside over the ceremony on Tuesday in the north-western city of Tabriz. And on Thursday evening President Raisi will be buried in the place of his birth, the holy city of Mashhad in the north-east of the country.

    This week of mourning will be the first test for Iran’s conservative leaders who want to send a clear and convincing signal of continuity.

  5. Iran begins five days of mourning after president’s death

    Johanna Chisholm
    Live reporter

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the funeral rites for Iran’s president and seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

    Iranians are beginning to gather in cities across the country to pay their final respects for President Ebrahim Raisi’s, after he was killed alongside the country’s foreign minister when a helicopter carrying him crashed in a mountainous area in north-west Iran.

    On Monday, Tehran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced five days of mourning. Student exams have been cancelled too.

    Preparations are also under way to organise presidential elections, which are due to take place on 28 June. Please stay with us as we bring you all the latest from inside Iran.

    Candles to mourn the dead outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, IraqReuters

    Candles to mourn the dead outside the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, Iraq