TEHRAN – One year after the fatal helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Tehran is doubling down on its denial of any Israeli involvement, seeking to quash persistent conspiracy theories.
Iran’s current Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, spoke on state television this week to address growing speculation, stating unequivocally that there is no indication of foreign sabotage. “The current findings do not point to any external involvement,” Araghchi said. “This was not the result of a hostile Israeli operation.”
Crash in the Mountains, Speculation in the Media
Raisi died on May 19, 2024, when his helicopter went down in rugged, snowy terrain near the Iranian-Azerbaijani border during extreme weather conditions. Also killed were then–Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other senior officials.
The incident was one of the most serious aviation disasters in Iran in recent decades and immediately sparked speculation about potential foreign involvement, particularly from Israel. Iranian authorities, however, are now firmly refuting those claims.
Iran Pushes Back: “This Was Not a Planned Attack”
Speaking at official memorial events, Araghchi said: “Thank God, it has been clarified that what happened to President Raisi was not orchestrated by Israel.” He warned the public and media outlets against fueling unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and emphasized that the evidence so far suggests a tragic accident, not an act of war.
