Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was Iran's Foreign Minister under Ebrahim Raisi from August 2021 until his death in May 2024. He died alongside Raisi in the helicopter crash on 19 May 2024 in East Azerbaijan. A career diplomat who specialised in Arab and African affairs, he served as Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs under Manouchehr Mottaki (2011–2016) and was known for his close ties to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the IRGC Quds Force. He was removed from his deputy role by Mohammad Javad Zarif in 2016, then became a senior adviser to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf at the Majlis. His foreign policy prioritised the 'resistance axis' and East-facing engagement with Russia and China.