Former MP Alleges Minister's Role in Raisi Helicopter Crash

A former Iranian lawmaker criticized hardline ministers, including presidential candidate Mehrdad Bazrpash, who avoided flying on Ebrahim Raisi's doomed helicopter last month, for quickly “jumping in to replace” the late president.

“Raisi was nurturing vipers in his bosom. It's perplexing to see these government ministers, who were supposedly in mourning just two weeks ago, now eagerly vying for the presidency. Why the sudden change of heart? Gholam-Ali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi said in an interview with Eslahat News on Friday.

Five members of the current government have registered to participate in the upcoming snap presidential election, a decision critics have characterized as odd, since allegedly as a coherent coalition, they could not decide on a candidate before they registered to run.

Imanabadi, referencing Bazrpash, the incumbent transport minister, remarked, "Some individuals, without providing explanations for their last-minute change of helicopter, have now swiftly prepared comprehensive program books for the forthcoming administration in a matter of days."

“How were they able to draft an extensive presidential agenda within just two weeks of the helicopter crash? This raises doubts and inquiries among the populace, particularly considering lingering uncertainties surrounding the crash,” he added.

Even before Raisi's body was recovered from the crash site last month, there were rumors about Bazrpash's sudden change of plans and refusal to board the same helicopter as Raisi.

Journalist Fariborz Kalantari claimed that Bazrpash and his team had convened a meeting on May 22 to strategize his candidacy in the June 28 elections to succeed Raisi.

In registering his candidacy, Bazrpash presented reporters with a voluminous document purportedly outlining his government's comprehensive plan.