Tehran: Iranian MP Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani hinted that a pager, similar to those used in attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, exploded inside the helicopter of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May, causing it to crash.
Ardestani suggested that the crash, which resulted in Raisi's death, was intentional. "Raisi used a pager that exploded and caused the accident. While it may differ from the ones currently used in detonations, it could have played a role in his crash," he said.
This theory gained traction after two days of attacks on September 16 and 17, during which pagers and walkie-talkies linked to Hezbollah members exploded, resulting in 39 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. These attacks are widely believed to be orchestrated by Israel, which has not confirmed or denied involvement.
“One possible explanation for the tragic helicopter crash is the explosion of Raisi’s pager,” Ardestani noted. “Although his pager might differ from those used by Hezbollah, it remains a possibility.”
He also pointed to Iranian involvement in acquiring the pagers for Hezbollah. “Iranian forces likely facilitated the purchase of these devices, so our intelligence agencies should investigate further,” he added.
This theory gained momentum after a photo featuring Raisi and the outgoing Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammad al-Halboosi surfaced, showing a pager on the table in the background. It is unclear if this was the same type of pager used by Hezbollah militants.
Earlier this month, an official investigation attributed the helicopter crash in May primarily to severe weather conditions, particularly dense fog. The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces released a report stating that all technical, engineering, electronic, and navigation aspects of the helicopter were meticulously reviewed, confirming adherence to safety standards.
The report dismissed various factors, including route deviations and external interference, as causes of the crash. Additionally, it noted that the pilot did not signal any emergencies, and forensic tests showed no evidence of foul play.
The crash, which occurred on May 19 in East Azarbaijan province, resulted in the deaths of Raisi and his entourage, including former Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
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