The Iranian cabinet has convened a second emergency meeting within 24 hours following the confirmed death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
Local media reported on Monday that Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber chaired a meeting on Sunday evening after a helicopter carrying nine people, including Raisi, went missing over north-west Iran.
The crash also claimed the life of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Raisi and Amirabdollahian were returning from a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev when their aircraft vanished from radar on Sunday afternoon.
Following protocol, Mokhber is expected to assume presidential duties pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
New elections are required to be held within 50 days, according to NAN reports.
President Raisi’s death: Iran’s cabinet holds new emergency session