Iran's President Raisi is dead. What does the leadership void mean for the country and the world?
The sudden death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash plunges Tehran into fresh uncertainty at a time when it already faces deep economic decline, popular discontent, and war. The helicopter carrying President Raisi suffered a hard landing on Sunday while returning from Azerbaijan in poor weather conditions, Iranian state media reported on Monday. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian also died in the accident. All eyes are now on what comes next for the Middle Eastern power, which is home to nearly 90 million people and whose government backs a number of regional armed proxy groups including Gaza's Hamas, Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthis. Some analysts expect a fair degree of continuity, while also noting that this could present an opening for Iran's po
