'Right hand' of supreme leader, Mohammad Mokhbar appointed as interim President of Iran

TEHRAN: Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar (69) has reportedly taken over the administration of the country temporarily after the death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Mokhbar is a politically experienced person with close ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He is also the former head of SETAD, a government-owned foundation. Mokhbar also holds advanced degrees in international law and management.

The council, which includes Mokhbar, Parliamentary Speaker Muhammad Baqar Khalibaf and Judiciary Chief Gollumhussain Mohseni Esheh has been instructed to elect a new president within the next 50 days. Supreme Leader Khamenei must approve the new president.

Mohammad Mokhbar was born on September 1, 1955. He has extensive experience in the political and economic spheres of Iran. When Raisi became president in 2021, Mohammad Mokhbar took over as the first vice president. In 2010, the European Union placed him on the sanctions list for alleged involvement in nuclear and ballistic missile activities. Mokhbar's name was removed from the list two years later. According to a Reuters report, Mokhbar was part of a delegation of Iranian officials who visited Moscow last October.

Modi condoles death of Iran president

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of Iran's president. India has good diplomatic and commercial relations with Iran. The Prime Minister described the tragic demise as shocking and distressing. "We express our solidarity with the Iranian people at this time of distress," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said through X.

Iran's President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Hussain died in a helicopter crash yesterday. This information was released by Iranian media. After a 12-hour effort, rescue workers reached the spot but could not find anyone alive. The rescue workers informed that some bodies were completely burnt and no one could be identified.