Amidst the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian member of parliament, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, has made a startling claim about the helicopter crash that killed former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May. Ardestani, a member of the National Security Commission of Parliament, told Iranian media outlet Didban Iran that a pager explosion was a likely cause of the crash.
This assertion comes just days after a series of attacks targeting Hezbollah communication devices, including pagers and walkie-talkies, that killed 39 people and injured thousands. These attacks, widely attributed to Israel, have significantly escalated the conflict between the two nations. While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement, the incident has triggered fears of a full-scale war.
Ardestani stated that “One likely scenario regarding the deadly helicopter crash that killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is the explosion of his pager.” He emphasized that while the type of pager used by Raisi might differ from those used by Hezbollah, the explosion of a pager remained a plausible explanation for the crash.
He further revealed that Iran was involved in purchasing the pagers used by Hezbollah militants. “Iranian forces certainly played a role in the purchase of Hezbollah’s pagers, and therefore, our own intelligence agencies must also investigate this matter,” Ardestani added.
The claim regarding Raisi’s use of a pager surfaced last week after a photo of him with the outgoing Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Halboosi went viral. The picture showed a pager on the table in the background, sparking speculation about its potential involvement in the fatal crash.
However, an official investigation into the helicopter crash concluded that challenging climatic and atmospheric conditions were the primary cause. The final report, published by the Supreme Board of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, stated that the complex climatic conditions, including dense fog, led to the helicopter crashing into a mountain. The report also ruled out any signs of sabotage.
Raisi’s death in May was a significant loss for Iran. He was a hardliner who was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His government faced persistent mass protests over the country’s ailing economy and women’s rights.
The recent escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has further heightened regional tensions. In addition to the attacks on communication devices, Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil was killed in a Friday airstrike, leading to a retaliatory rocket barrage from Hezbollah targeting Israeli military facilities and civilian neighborhoods.
The Israeli military, in an unprecedented move, has called on residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes due to its extensive strikes against Hezbollah. The escalating violence has raised serious concerns about a full-blown war, especially as Israel simultaneously battles Hamas in Gaza and attempts to secure the release of hostages taken on October 7.
With Hezbollah firing into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, the conflict continues to escalate. While Israel claims to be committed to restoring calm by retaliating with airstrikes, the fighting has already claimed hundreds of lives in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, displacing tens of thousands on both sides of the border. The situation remains volatile and fraught with uncertainty.
