TEHRAN: Following the tragic death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border, Iran has announced plans to hold its presidential election on June 28. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Tehran’s interim president, Mohammad Mokhber, which included the heads of branches of power.

With Raisi no longer in contention, the registration of candidates will take place from May 30 to June 3, and the election campaign will run from June 12 to 27. As per Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a council is formed to manage the country’s executive affairs for 50 days and prepare for the presidential elections.

Also Read: The U.S. extends condolences over the death of Iran’s Raisi in a helicopter crash

In the wake of Raisi’s death, Mohammad Mokhber has assumed the role of interim president. Mokhber, who previously served as first vice president, is part of a three-person council tasked with organizing the upcoming presidential election within the next two months. Reports circulating online suggest that Mokhber is a close aide of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and held the position of first vice president in 2021 during Raisi’s presidency.

Known for his extensive experience, Mokhber has been involved in various significant roles, including a visit to Russia in October, where Iran agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and drones to the Kremlin army. He is also a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and has previously served as deputy governor of Khuzestan Province and chief of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order (EIKO). Additionally, he served as an officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s medical corps during the Iran-Iraq war.