The tragic helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is under renewed scrutiny as Iran implicates neighboring Azerbaijan in a potential Mossad plot. Raisi died on May 19, 2024, in a mountainous region near the border with Azerbaijan. The recent accusations suggest a link between Azerbaijan and the crash, given the strained relationship between the two countries.
Mehdi Sobhani, an Iranian diplomat, accused neighboring countries of aiding Israel in its covert operations within Iran. He specifically pointed to Azerbaijan as a conduit for Israeli drones. Sobhani’s claims, made on June 27, are supported by reports from Iranian state media which allege that Israel smuggled mini UAVs into Iran in recent months. Iran has requested Azerbaijan conduct an investigation.
The focus has shifted back to the crash given the strained relationship between Iran and Azerbaijan, and their differing stances on Israel. Though an official inquiry initially attributed the crash to poor weather conditions, Iran’s current stance has led to a re-evaluation of the events.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has dismissed the accusations as baseless and provocative, citing a lack of credible evidence. They called on Iran to refrain from actions that could harm their relations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has requested his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, to investigate the alleged smuggling of UAVs through their territory.