Iran’s Guardian Council has appointed Mohammad Mokhber as acting president, and Ali Bagheri Kani will serve as the acting minister of foreign affairs following the demise of President Ebrahim Raisi and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, whose remains were picked up in the mountains of Jolfa after a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Mr Kani, a deputy foreign minister versed in political affairs, was tapped to serve in an acting capacity until Iran is able to find more capable hands or make his appointment permanent.

Similarly, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Mr Mokhber will be the acting president pending the election of a new president, which must happen within 50 days. 

Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon has declared a three-day official mourning period for their unprecedented demise. 

The Hezbollah militant group expressed condolences to the Iranian authorities on the passing of their leader, describing him as a “great brother” and ferocious protector of Islamic principles and the faithful.

“We have known Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi for many years; he was our great brother, a strong supporter, a staunch defender of the issues of the Islamic Ummah, at the forefront of which is the issue of al-Quds and Palestine,” Hezbollah said in its condolence message.

According to Hezbollah, Mr Raisi, 63, was “a supporter and friend of the resistance movements and their standard-bearer in all political and diplomatic forums around the world.”