The late President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter crash. Raisi was known to the U.S. government for his involvement in massacres of Iranian citizens. The Trump administration had sanctioned him for his role in the massacre of 5,000 Iranian political prisoners in 1988, as well as his involvement in the slaughter of 1,500 Iranian demonstrators in 2019. Raisi had boasted about his role on a death panel in the late 1980s. He was nicknamed the “Butcher of Tehran” for his brutal crackdowns on Iranian protesters.
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei handpicked Raisi as his candidate in a controversial election in 2021. Raisi was known for his brutal suppression of dissent, including participants in the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement. Following Raisi’s death, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken over as president until new elections are held, as mandated by Iran’s constitution. Both the U.S. and the European Union have sanctioned Mokhber for his involvement in human rights abuses.
Raisi’s tenure was marked by his expansion of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, missile and drone attacks on Israel, and a crackdown on activists associated with the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement. President Biden’s approach towards Raisi and Khamenei was criticized for potentially emboldening Iran’s regime. Biden waived sanctions on Iran’s economy, providing billions of dollars to the regime. Critics argued that the funds could be used to finance military activities, although the administration claimed the relief was for humanitarian purposes.
German-Iranian dissident, Kazem Moussavi, called Raisi one of the main criminals in Iran’s history and urged German officials not to offer condolences for his death. The Biden administration faced backlash for providing significant economic relief to Raisi’s regime. Iranian Americans protested Raisi’s appearance at the U.N., highlighting the widespread loathing for him among Iranians in the diaspora and within the Islamic Republic. The next Iranian president is expected to continue Raisi’s anti-Western and anti-Israeli policies.
The U.S. State Department has long classified Iran’s regime as the world’s worst state-sponsor of international terrorism. Raisi’s death presents challenges for Iran’s succession to Khamenei and for the future of the regime. Despite criticism of Biden’s dealings with Iran, the administration has maintained assurance that funds provided to Iran are for humanitarian purposes only. The policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are likely to remain hostile towards the West and Israel under the next president, continuing the legacy of Raisi’s regime.
