The death of Iran’s president Raisi will spark a high-stakes power struggle
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi tragically died after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in a mountainous and forested area of the country amid poor weather conditions. The 63-year-old leader, known for representing conservative and hardline factions in Iranian politics, served as president for nearly three years and was preparing for a re-election campaign next year.
Early Life and Political Ascent
Ebrahim Raisi was born in Mashhad, a religious hub in northeastern Iran. He pursued religious studies in Qom, training under prominent scholars, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current supreme leader. Raisi wore a black turban, indicating his status as a sayyid, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, which holds particular significance among Twelver Shia Muslims.
Legal Career and Controversies
Raisi’s career in the judiciary began as a prosecutor in various jurisdictions before he moved to Tehran in 1985. In the capital, he became part of a committee of judges accused by human rights organizations of overseeing the execution of political prisoners. This period has been a source of significant controversy in his career.
Roles in Government and Religious Institutions
Raisi was a long-standing member of the Assembly of Experts, which is responsible for selecting a new supreme leader upon the current leader’s death. He served as Iran’s attorney general from 2014 to 2016, after which Khamenei appointed him to lead Astan Quds Razavi, a vast charitable trust with billions in assets and the custodian of the Imam Reza shrine, a major Shia pilgrimage site.
Presidential Campaigns and Judiciary Leadership
Raisi first ran for president in 2017 but lost to the incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, who represented centrist and moderate factions. However, Raisi’s political career surged when Khamenei appointed him head of the judiciary in 2019. He built his image as a champion of justice and anti-corruption, traveling extensively to gain popular support.
In 2021, amid low voter turnout and the disqualification of many reformist and moderate candidates, Raisi was elected president. His administration has been marked by a firm stance against Israel and the United States, and he has often condemned Western allies.
Stance on Regional Conflicts and Nuclear Deal
Raisi’s rhetoric intensified with the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since October, he frequently condemned what he described as “genocide” and “massacres” by Israel against Palestinians and urged international intervention. After Israel targeted Tehran’s consulate in Syria, killing seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals, Raisi vowed revenge.
Iran responded by launching hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel. Although many were intercepted by Israel and its allies, Iran declared the operation a success.
Raisi was also a vocal critic of the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), especially after former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. Raisi championed Khamenei’s strategy of “resistance” and “resilience” in the face of severe economic sanctions imposed following the collapse of the nuclear agreement.
Alliances and Support for Regional Groups
A staunch ally of the IRGC, Raisi was a fervent supporter of the “axis of resistance,” a network of political and armed groups backed by Iran across the Middle East, including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. He was a notable backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose government has been supported by Iran in the Syrian civil war, a conflict that has resulted in significant casualties and destruction.
Legacy and Impact
Raisi’s death marks a significant turning point in Iranian politics. His tenure as president was characterized by a hardline approach, strong ties with the IRGC, and unwavering support for Iran’s regional allies. His death leaves a potential gap in the conservative and hardline factions of Iranian politics as the country prepares for upcoming elections.
Raisi’s life was deeply intertwined with Iran’s religious and political spheres, from his early education in Mashhad and Qom to his roles in the judiciary and executive branches of government. His legacy will be evaluated by both his staunch supporters, who viewed him as a defender of justice and national integrity, and his critics, who have highlighted the controversial aspects of his career, particularly his role in the execution of political prisoners in the 1980s.
As Iran mourns the loss of its president, the country faces a period of uncertainty, with potential implications for both domestic politics and international relations. The selection of a new leader, especially in the context of the upcoming elections and ongoing geopolitical tensions, will be closely watched by observers around the world.