Uncertainty in Iran: What next after president's death in helicopter crash?

The Debate

Iran's regime just lost a safe pair of hands. Yes, another hardliner is sure to replace Ebrahim Raisi – known to detractors as the butcher of Tehran for the thousands of dissidents he sent to the gallows as a state prosecutor. But the president's sudden death in a helicopter crash may still change the equation – not so much for a presidential election slated by the constitution to be held in 50 days' time, but in the behind-the-scenes jockeying to pick a successor to Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader who is 85 years old and frail. Raisi – himself a cleric – had been tipped as a possible replacement.

We ask about the crash and the challenges ahead for Iran.

Then there are the country's 88 million citizens. Will they get involved? Since Raisi was elected in 2021, the regime has stared down the massive "women, life, freedom" protests but lost a great measure of its legitimacy. With pragmatists and moderates sidelined, recent legislative elections were marked by record low turnout. Will Iran's decision makers open the door to dissenting views or double down?

Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Rebecca Gnignati and Imen Mellaz.