Iranian election authorities announced that early presidential elections will take place on June 28, according to Muhsin Eslami, a spokesman for the national election center. The statement, reported by Mehr, frames June 28 as a pivotal date in Iran’s electoral timeline, marking a historic moment in the country’s political calendar as officials prepare to convene ahead of schedule.
Eslami described the June 28 date as a milestone in Iran’s electoral history, underscoring the significance of an expedited process for selecting the next head of state. The spokesman’s comments came as officials publicized plans to move quickly to organize the vote, with state media emphasizing the aim of ensuring a timely transition of power while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The political and security apparatus was temporarily disrupted on May 19 after a helicopter carrying President Ibrahim Reisi crashed in the mountains near the border with Azerbaijan. In the wake of the incident, presidential duties were temporarily assumed by the first deputy, Mohammed Mokhber, for a period of 50 days while investigators worked to determine what happened and how to prevent any recurrence. Early elections were announced to fill the presidency during this interim period.
On board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other senior officials, with Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani subsequently named as the deputy head of the Islamic Republic’s foreign affairs department during the emergency. The official response highlighted the seriousness of the crash and the broad national interest in clarifying all circumstances surrounding the incident.
In the days following the crash, the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mohammed Bagheri, directed an investigation led by relevant security and aviation authorities to determine the causes. Iranian officials stressed that the inquiry would be thorough and transparent, aiming to provide the public with accurate explanations and to improve safety measures for high-ranking officials and state operations in the future. Meanwhile, regional and international partners indicated readiness to assist in the inquiry as needed, reflecting a united approach to uncovering the truth behind the disaster.
Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, spoke with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the ongoing inquiry and to offer cooperation in identifying the factors that led to the helicopter crash. The two sides agreed that a detailed assessment would help prevent similar incidents and contribute to regional stability, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in crisis investigations. While authorities in Iran have not yet issued a final statement on the root causes, official briefings have signaled that a comprehensive review is underway, with findings anticipated as the investigation progresses.