How Will Iranian President Raisi’s Death Impact The Islamic Republic And The Middle East?

The sudden helicopter crash on Sunday that claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has thrown the Islamic Republic into a period of uncertainty.With the loss of top political figures, Iran finds itself grappling with internal and geopolitical challenges on multiple fronts, especially in the wake of regional tension owing to the ongoing war in Gaza.READ MORE: Iran President News LIVE: Ebrahim Raisi Dies In Helicopter Crash; Vice President Mohammad Mokhber To Succeed HimSuccession Plans Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (File Photo/AP)Raisi’s death comes at a critical juncture for Iran, already grappling with a political transition compounded by the aging Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi, widely seen as a loyalist to 85-year-old Khamenei, was speculated as a potential successor to the supreme leader.However, his untimely death clears a thorny path for Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, amid growing calls for a hereditary succession, a move opposed by many clerics. “In the country’s hydra-headed leadership where power is spread in often opaque ways between clerics, politicians and army, it is the supreme leader, and not the president, that is ultimately decisive,” The Guardian wrote.Regional Tensions Advertisement At least 370,000 housing units in Gaza have been damaged, including 79,000 destroyed completely, the report said, along with commercial buildings. (AP Photo/File)Beyond internal power struggles, Iran faces escalating tensions with regional adversaries, particularly Israel. “Israel’s war against Hamas and the subsequent humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza over the last seven months has inflamed global opinion and sent tensions soaring across the Middle East,” according to CNN analysis. The recent exchange of direct strikes between Iran and Israel has heightened concerns of a wider conflict. Last month, Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, following an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus. Although direct strikes between the two have ceased, proxy conflicts persist, with Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah continuing to engage Israeli forces.Nuclear Program Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran, April 19, 2024, in this screengrab taken from video. (Reuters)The death of Raisi death also amplifies concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and its strained relations with the West. Iran’s enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels has drawn international condemnation and heightened fears of nuclear proliferation. Iran’s alleged support for armed groups in conflict zones beyond the Middle East, such as in Ukraine, further complicates its international standing.top videosView AllShips Carrying Aid Arrive In Gaza Via US-Built PierDR Congo Thwarts Attack On Presidential Palace Amid Growing Crisis | 3 Killed In “Attempted Coup”US F-22 Raptor, South Korean F-35A Stealth Jets Fly In China’s Backyard Amid Simmering TensionsIran President Raisi’s Helicopter Makes “Hard Landing” Near Azerbaijan | Bad Weather Impedes RescueGeorgian Dream To Override President’s Veto Of Controversial, “Kremlin-Inspired Foreign Agents” Law?According to the Associated Press, Iran’s influence extends beyond the Middle East and its rivalry with Israel. Israel and Western countries have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons in the guise of a peaceful atomic program in what they see as a threat to non-proliferation everywhere.Stay informed with the Iranian President News Latest Updates..RohitRohit is sub-editor at News18.com and covers international news. He previously wfirst published: May 20, 2024, 12:52 IST