Iran's Guardian Council: First Vice President to take over as interim president

Tehran: The Islamic Republic of Iran's Guardian Council spokesman Hadi Tahan Nazif has announced that according to the Constitution, the vice president will take over as interim president with the Supreme Leader's approval.

Tahan Nazif in an interview today said that with the Supreme Leader's approval, a council consisting of the Iranian judiciary chief, parliament speaker, and vice president will take measures to hold elections within 50 days.

He said that there will be "no disruption to the operations of the country," the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported. According to Article 131 of the Constitution of Iran, in case of the death of the vice president, or other matters which prevent him from performing his duties, or when the president does not have a vice president, the Supreme Leader shall appoint another person in his place.

Iran announced earlier on Monday the death of the Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their accompanying delegation following a helicopter crash yesterday (Sunday) while traveling in East Azarbaijan Province, northwest of the country.