Transaction

jmetaB02c32fff71d40de5d18e8165682a7a5e3608ebe41c6947773f2ffbb385fbe13802@3e91da6efcff989809c61111df8cb55d54bb6584fe5afb333c986f52bd1bcab9rss.itemmetarss.netM!<item><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fa9ab4158-31a3-4653-a69f-ed199405f1aa.jpg?crop=3000%2C1688%2C0%2C156&resize=1200" /><div><div><p>The death of Iran’s hardline president was confirmed on Monday, provoking a mixed reaction and presenting a fresh challenge for the Islamic regime to hold elections within 50 days to replace him.</p><p>The news that Ebrahim Raisi had died was announced by state media after his helicopter crashed on Sunday. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister, also died in the accident, blamed on bad weather and malfunction, as Raisi’s delegation returned from a visit to Azer­baijan. Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy, denied involvement.</p><p>Mohammad Mokhber, the vice-president, assumed office and declared five days of mourning for Raisi, 63, a former cleric and prosecutor widely seen as a potential successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, as Iran’s supreme leader.</p><div><div><div><div><div><div><img src="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F29bda4c5-bb75-4446-97e0-0f5a504911ec.jpg?crop=1596%2C1064%2C120%2C0" /><div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div>Video footage, released by the IRINN Iranian state television network, shows Raisi on board the helicopter prior to its crash</div><div>IRINN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>With his funeral due to begin today, the European Union, Russia, India,</p></div></div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2024 20:45:32 GMT</pubDate><link><![CDATA[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ayatollah-demands-swift-replacement-for-iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-9j5sfr8pz]]></link><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samer Al-Atrush Middle East Correspondent]]></dc:creator><title><![CDATA[Ayatollah demands swift replacement for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi]]></title><guid isPermaLink="true"><![CDATA[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ayatollah-demands-swift-replacement-for-iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-9j5sfr8pz]]></guid></item>