Iran sets date for presidential election.

Các quan chức hàng đầu của Iran tổ chức cuộc họp để đưa ra quyết định về thời điểm tổ chức bầu cử Tổng thống. (Ảnh: MNA) — Top Iranian officials held a meeting to decide on the timing of the presidential election. (Photo: MNA)

On the evening of May 20, top Iranian officials representing the executive, legislative, and judicial branches held a meeting chaired by interim President Mohammad Mokhber, who temporarily took over from President Ebrahim Raisi after his accident.

Accordingly, the leaders decided that an extraordinary election to elect a new President of Iran will be held on June 28th. Candidate registration will take place from May 30th to June 3rd, and the campaign period will run from June 12th to the morning of June 27th.

The aforementioned decision by Iranian leaders comes as the country confirmed the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and several other officials in a helicopter crash on May 19 in East Azerbaijan province. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning and appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to temporarily take over Raisi's position.

Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran states: If a president dies while in office, the first vice president will succeed him, after confirmation by the Supreme Leader, who has the most important say in all Iranian affairs. Subsequently, a council comprising the first vice president, the Speaker of Parliament , and the head of the judiciary must hold elections for a new president within a maximum of 50 days.

Earlier today, the Iranian parliament announced it would hold its first session following President Raisi's death, today, May 21st.

After rescue workers identified the helicopter wreckage, an Iranian official said the helicopter carrying President Raisi was completely destroyed when it crashed.

Earlier, on May 19th, the Bell 212 helicopter carrying President Raisi and his delegation experienced a malfunction and made a hard landing in East Azarbaijan province. The helicopter convoy escorting Iranian President Raisi was en route from Khoda Afarin to Tabriz, the provincial capital, to attend the inauguration of a petrochemical complex. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati were also on board the helicopter carrying President Raisi. A total of nine people were on the ill-fated helicopter.