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鈥淲e don鈥檛 anticipate any change in Iranian behavior, and therefore, the Iranians should not expect any change in American behavior when it comes to holding them accountable,鈥� White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

Kirby added the U.S. expects the change in Iran鈥檚 leadership will not change Iran鈥檚 support of Hamas, Hezbollah or the Yemen-based Houthis who have targeted commercial shipping vessels in region in the region since the start of the war in Gaza.

He added that U.S. officials expect Iran to continue supplying Russia with drones and other weaponry for its war in Ukraine.

The death of Iran鈥檚 president is unlikely to lead to any immediate changes in Iran鈥檚 ruling system or to its overarching policies, which are decided by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But Ebrahim Raisi was seen as a prime candidate to succeed the 85-year-old supreme leader, and his death makes it more likely that the job could eventually go to Khamenei鈥檚 son.

A hereditary succession would pose a potential crisis of legitimacy for the Islamic Republic, which was established as an alternative to monarchy but which many Iranians see as a corrupt and dictatorial regime.

鈻� Read more about what comes next for Iran鈥檚 leadership.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller says Iran reached out to the United States for assistance after Sunday鈥檚 helicopter crash. The U.S. said it would do what it could, but it turned out there was nothing it could do logistically to assist.

It is not clear where Iran鈥檚 request for assistance was made. The U.S. and Iran have no formal diplomatic relationship.

Iranian authorities have agreed to hold the presidential election on June 28 following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, the state-run IRNA news agency reports.

The report says acting President Mohammad Mokhber and other leaders including the head of the judiciary and parliament speaker agreed on the date. The decision must be approved by the Guardian Council, according to Iran鈥檚 constitution, which says a new election should be called within 50 days.

The IRNA report says all candidates can register from May 30 to June 3 and campaigning will be June 12 to June 27.

Iran鈥檚 state television says all government offices and private businesses in the country will be closed on Wednesday to coincide with funerals for crash victims. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will pray for the dead on Wednesday.

Separate funeral ceremonies will be held Tuesday in the northeastern city of Tabriz and in Qom, which is home to major Shiite seminaries.

The burial of President Ebrahim Raisi will take place on Thursday in Mashhad, where he was born.

In a statement published Monday, the U.S. State Department offered official condolences for the victims of the helicopter crash that killed Iran鈥檚 president and others. It added that 鈥渁s Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.鈥�

In a separate statement, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. us continuing to monitor the situation surrounding the 鈥渧ery unfortunate helicopter crash鈥� but says he has no insight into the cause of the accident.

Austin added that he doesn鈥檛 鈥渘ecessarily see any broader regional security impacts at this point in time.鈥�

In Syria鈥檚 opposition-held northwest, news of the Iranian president鈥檚 death was met with joy by many who consider Iran responsible for propping up the rule of President Bashar Assad and his government鈥檚 crackdown on dissent.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a secret the massacres that Iran has committed against the Syrian people,鈥� said Ibrahim Nidal, 31, one of the people distributing sweets in celebration. 鈥淚鈥檓 among the people whose houses were destroyed and who were driven from their homes.鈥�

鈥淲e were all happy鈥� upon hearing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi鈥檚 death, said Mohammed Assaf, 30, who fled to Idlib in 2016 when government forces seized back control of rebel-held parts of Aleppo. He said he hoped that Assad meets the same fate.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken by phone with Mohammad Mokhber and told the Iranian caretaker president that Turkey will stand by Tehran during this 鈥渕ournful period.鈥�

Erdogan鈥檚 office quoted the Turkish leader as saying Turkey would 鈥渃ontinue to fulfil the requirements of the neighborly and brotherly ties鈥� with Iran.

Erdogan said he would 鈥渁lways remember鈥� the late Iranian president and foreign minister for their contributions to relations between the countries.

Mourners crowded into downtown Vali-e-Asr square, holding posters of Raisi and waving Palestinian flags. Some men clutched prayers beads and were visibly crying. Women wearing black chadors gathered together holding photos of the dead leader.

After the news first broke of the search operation, countries including Russia, Iraq and Qatar made formal statements of concern about Raisi鈥檚 fate and offered to assist in the search.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev offered any support necessary. Relations between the two countries have been chilly due to Azerbaijan鈥檚 diplomatic relations with Israel, Iran鈥檚 regional arch-enemy.

Saudi Arabia, traditionally a rival of Iran although the two countries have recently made a rapprochement, said it stands by 鈥淚ran in these difficult circumstances.鈥�

There was no immediate official reaction from Israel. Last month, following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus that killed two Iranian generals, Tehran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. They were mostly shot down and tensions have apparently since subsided.

Iran faces a shortage of parts to maintain aircraft. Iran鈥檚 state media said the helicopter that crashed was a Bell 212 that Iran purchased in the early 2000s. Bell produced that model from 1968 until 1998.

Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst and consultant, said Iran likely is tapping the black market for parts amid sanctions on the country. But he said Iran had access to an alternative in Russian helicopters.

鈥淭hey are blaming sanctions, and that鈥檚 correct, but there are no sanctions whatsoever on (Iran buying) Russian helicopters, and Russian helicopters are pretty good. They didn鈥檛 have to fly this guy around鈥� in such an old machine, Aboulafia said. 鈥淭hey are blaming sanctions for their own incompetence. You could buy an MI-17 anytime. It鈥檚 what Vladimir Putin flies in.鈥�

Aboulafia also questioned whether Iran has maintenance skills necessary for keeping older helicopters flying safely. 鈥淭here are a lot of parts available on the black market, especially for a 212 鈥� that鈥檚 a very old machine,鈥� he said. 鈥淗alf-century-old helicopters, if immaculately maintained, are OK. But black-market parts and whatever local maintenance capabilities they鈥檝e got 鈥� that鈥檚 not a good combination.鈥�

Raisi was seen as a prot茅g茅 to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor for his position within the country鈥檚 Shiite theocracy.

Under the Iranian constitution, if a president dies, the country鈥檚 first vice president 鈥� in this case, Mohammad Mokhber 鈥� would become president.

Khamenei has publicly assured Iranians that there would be 鈥渘o disruption to the operations of the country鈥� as a result of the crash.

Iran has spent decades supporting armed groups and militants in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Palestinian territories, allowing it to project power and potentially deter attacks from the United States or Israel, the sworn enemies of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tensions have never been higher than they were last month, when Iran under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an airstrike on an Iranian Consulate in Syria that killed two Iranian generals and five officers.

Israel, with the help of the United States, Britain, Jordan and others, intercepted nearly all the projectiles. In response, Israel apparently launched its own strike against an air defense radar system in the Iranian city of Isfahan, causing no casualties but sending an unmistakable message.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has drawn in other Iranian allies, with each attack and counterattack threatening to set off a wider war.

It鈥檚 a combustible mix that could be ignited by unexpected events, such as Sunday鈥檚 deadly crash.

鈻� Read more about how the helicopter crash could stir up tensions across the middle east.

BAGHDAD鈥� Iraq has announced that Tuesday will be a national day of mourning for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other members of their delegation who were killed in a helicopter crash in Iran on Sunday.

A Shiite power, Iran, also has significant influence in Iraq, especially among its majority Shiites. Iraq鈥檚 main coalition in the government is close to Tehran, and Iran also funds and trains a number of militias in Iraq.

Pakistan has also announced a day of mourning. Lebanon and Syria have both declared three days of mourning.

MOSCOW 鈥� Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday spoke on the phone with Mohammad Mokhber, Iran鈥檚 first vice president who has been named the country鈥檚 acting president following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the Kremlin said.

Putin extended his condolences to Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mokhber and 鈥渁ll the people of Iran,鈥� and emphasized that he knew and appreciated Raisi 鈥渁s a reliable partner who made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of friendly relations between Russia and Iran.鈥�

Mokhber, the Kremlin said, 鈥渆xpressed sincere gratitude for the words of sympathy and support during this difficult time for the country.鈥�

Both men 鈥渆mphasized their mutual desire to further consistently strengthen comprehensive Russian-Iranian cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.鈥�

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a brief statement on Monday offered condolences for the deaths of Iran鈥檚 president and foreign minister and 鈥渙ther Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash.鈥�

鈥淭he EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,鈥� the statement said.

The French Foreign Ministry extended its 鈥渃ondolences鈥� to the Islamic Republic, and said it was sending 鈥渋ts thoughts to the families of the victims of this accident.鈥�

CAIRO 鈥� The Al-Azhar al-Sharif, the Sunni world鈥檚 foremost seat of religious learning, on Monday mourned the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others who were killed in a helicopter crash.

In a statement, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo-based Al-Azhar, extended his condolences to the Iranian people and the families of the dead officials.

Al-Azhar is a prestigious religious institution across the Muslim world. A 1,000-year-old university of scholar-clerics, it teaches new generations of Sunni clerics and produces research that for many spells out what being a Muslim entails.

TEHRAN 鈥� Iran鈥檚 acting president has appointed the country鈥檚 nuclear negotiator as the Foreign Ministry caretaker after Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was killed in a helicopter crash, state TV reported Monday.

Acting President Mohammad Mokhber appointed Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran鈥檚 nuclear negotiator, as Foreign Ministry caretaker, Cabinet spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi was quoted as saying.

Mokhber was appointed acting president by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday after the crashed helicopter was found in northwestern Iran.

BERLIN 鈥� The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, called at a conference on nuclear security in Vienna for a minute of silence in memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and the other victims of the helicopter crash in Iran.

鈥淚 extend my condolences on [their] tragic passing,鈥� Grossi wrote on social network X on Monday. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time.鈥�

Grossi visited Iran earlier this month as his agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, negotiates with Tehran over how to implement a deal struck last year to expand inspections of the Islamic Republic鈥檚 rapidly advancing atomic program.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� Iran鈥檚 first Vice President Mohammad Mokhber was appointed as acting president of the Islamic Republic on Monday after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in the country鈥檚 northwest.

Mokhber, 68, largely has been in the shadows compared to other politicians in Iran鈥檚 Shiite theocracy. Raisi鈥檚 death under the constitution thrust Mokhber into public view. He is expected to serve as caretaker president for some 50 days before mandatory presidential elections in Iran.

Read more about the life of Mohammad Mokhber, a politician who has held prominent positions within the country鈥檚 power structure despite his low-key public profile.

BEIRUT 鈥� Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both combatants against Israeli forces in the ongoing war in Gaza and both of which have received military support from Tehran, issued statements Monday mourning the deaths of Iran鈥檚 president and foreign minister.

Hamas said the helicopter crash had 鈥渃laimed the lives of a group of the best Iranian leaders,鈥� praising their 鈥渉onorable positions in support of our Palestinian cause, and support for the legitimate struggle of our people against the Zionist entity,鈥� referring to Israel.

鈥淲e are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be able 鈥� God willing 鈥� to overcome the repercussions of this great loss. The dear Iranian people have ancient institutions capable of dealing with this severe ordeal,鈥� the statement said.

The Islamic Jihad, similarly, called the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian 鈥渁 great loss for the Palestinian people in these difficult circumstances, as they had a prominent and clear role in supporting and assisting the Palestinian people鈥檚 struggle and resistance.鈥�

It was not immediately clear what impact, if any, Raisi鈥檚 death would have on Iran鈥檚 involvement in the ongoing regional conflict.

BEIJING 鈥� Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences on Monday over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to the Foreign Ministry.

鈥淗is unfortunate death is a huge loss to the Iranian people, and also caused China to lose a good friend,鈥� said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a daily news briefing.

Xi also praised Raisi鈥檚 鈥渋mportant contributions to safeguarding Iran鈥檚 security and stability鈥� and for 鈥減ositive efforts鈥� on China-Iran relations.

Wang also expressed condolences over the death of Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and said China would continue to provide necessary assistance and support to Iran.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates 鈥� Iran鈥檚 supreme leader has appointed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as country鈥檚 acting president after a helicopter crash killed President Ebrahim Raisi.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement in a condolence message he shared for Raisi鈥檚 death in the crash Sunday. The helicopter was found Monday in northwestern Iran.

Khamenei also announced five days of mourning in the message.

鈻� This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here

KABUL, Afghanistan 鈥� Afghanistan鈥檚 Taliban rulers on Monday said they were deeply saddened by the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country鈥檚 foreign minister in a helicopter crash.

鈥淲e share our grief with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the people of that country and offer our condolences to all the families of the victims, the nation and the government of Iran,鈥� the Taliban prime minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, said in a statement.

ANKARA, Turkey 鈥� Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his condolences to the Iranian people and government over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other officials in a helicopter crash.

Erdogan said in a statement posted on social platform X that he remembers Raisi 鈥渨ith respect and gratitude鈥� and praised his 鈥渆fforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in office.鈥�

Turkish authorities dispatched a drone late on Sunday to help locate the wreckage and early on Monday released footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they 鈥渟uspected to be the wreckage of a helicopter.鈥�

MOSCOW 鈥� Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday extended his 鈥渄eep condolences鈥� to Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling the deaths of the country鈥檚 president and other officials a 鈥渉uge tragedy鈥� and 鈥渁 difficult, irreparable loss.鈥�

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin, was 鈥渁n outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving the Motherland.鈥�

鈥淗e rightfully enjoyed high respect from his compatriots and significant authority abroad. As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good neighborly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership,鈥� the Russian president said.

Putin said that he had met Raisi several times and 鈥渨ill forever retain the fondest memory of this wonderful man.鈥�

BEIRUT 鈥� Lebanon鈥檚 caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared three days of mourning in the country in response to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, with flags at official institutions to be flown at half-staff.

Lebanon鈥檚 political factions are deeply divided between those in support of Iran and its protege, Hezbollah, and those opposed to Iranian influence in the country.

Beirut 鈥� Syrian President Bashar Assad sent his condolences to Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the deaths of the country鈥檚 president and foreign minister and their accompanying delegation. Iran鈥檚 intervention in the Syrian civil war on behalf of Assad鈥檚 embattled government helped to keep the Syrian president in power.

鈥淲e worked with the late president (Raisi) to ensure that the strategic relations between Syria and Iran remain prosperous always, and we will always remember his visit to Syria as an important milestone in this path, and all the visions and ideas that he presented to enrich relations with everything that benefits the Syrian and Iranian peoples,鈥� Assad鈥檚 office said in a statement.

MOSCOW 鈥� Azerbaijan鈥檚 President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader, saying in a statement that he and his government were 鈥渄eeply shocked by the heavy loss that befell the brotherly and friendly Islamic Republic of Iran and its people.鈥�

In Raisi 鈥渢he people of Iran have lost an outstanding statesman who served his country selflessly and faithfully all his life. The bright memory of him will always live in our hearts,鈥� Aliyev said.

BEIRUT 鈥� The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has received substantial backing from Iran and is a senior member of its regional 鈥渁xis of resistance,鈥� mourned the deaths of the Iranian president and foreign minister in a statement.

It described Raisi as 鈥渁 big brother to us, a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our issues and the Arab nations鈥� issues, most notably Jerusalem and Palestine, and a protector of the resistance movements and those fighting on their behalf in all the positions of responsibility he held.鈥�

CAIRO 鈥� Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt has mourned the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials in a helicopter crash. In a statement, el-Sissi expressed his country鈥檚 solidarity with 鈥渢he leadership and people of Iran in this great loss.鈥�

TEHRAN 鈥� Iran鈥檚 Cabinet held an emergency meeting as state media announced the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.

The Cabinet offered its condolences, saying in a statement that he made the ultimate sacrifice in serving his country, according to a report by the state-run IRNA news agency. The report was accompanied by a photo of Raisi鈥檚 chair draped in black, his photo on the desk.

鈥淲e assure our loyal and appreciative and beloved nation that the path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi, the hero and the servant of the nation and the faithful friend of the leadership,鈥� the Cabinet said in a statement carried by IRNA.

ISLAMABAD 鈥� Pakistan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a day of mourning over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

鈥淚 along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss. May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,鈥� Sharif wrote on the social platform X on Monday.

Sharif recently hosted Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian when they visited Pakistan and said: 鈥淭hey were good friends of Pakistan.鈥�

Pakistan鈥檚 President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement also expressed shock and sorrow over Raisi鈥檚 death. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the Iranian president, the foreign minister and others who died in the accident.

NEW DELHI 鈥� Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi鈥檚 death, and sent his condolences to Raisi鈥檚 family and the people of Iran.

鈥淚ndia stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,鈥� Modi said in a post on social platform X on Monday.

BAGHDAD 鈥� Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose government coalition is close to Tehran, expressed 鈥済reat sadness and great sorrow鈥� in a statement on Monday after the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and others in a helicopter crash.

He also extended 鈥渟incere condolences鈥� to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader and government and 鈥渟olidarity with the brotherly Iranian people.鈥�

CAIRO 鈥� A Houthi leader in Yemen on Monday mourned the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials who were killed in a helicopter crash.

鈥淥ur deepest condolences to the Iranian people and the Iranian leadership and to the families of the president and the accompanying delegation,鈥� Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, the head of the Houthis鈥� Supreme Revolutionary Committees. 鈥淭he Iranian people will continue to have leaders loyal to their people, God willing.鈥�

Iran is the main backer of the Houthis in their yearslong war against Yemen鈥檚 internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates 鈥� Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country鈥檚 foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash after an hourslong search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country鈥檚 northwest, state media reported.

State TV gave no immediate cause for the crash in Iran鈥檚 East Azerbaijan province. With Raisi were Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran鈥檚 East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Turkish authorities early Monday released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they 鈥渟uspected to be wreckage of a helicopter.鈥� The coordinates listed in the footage put the fire some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on the side of a steep mountain.

Footage released by the IRNA early Monday showed what the agency described as the crash site, across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language said: 鈥淭here it is, we found it.鈥�

Shortly after, state TV in an on-screen scrolling text said: 鈥淭here is no sign of life from people on board.鈥� It did not elaborate, but the semiofficial Tasnim news agency showed rescuers using a small drone to fly over the site, with them speaking among themselves saying the same thing.

鈻� This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates 鈥� Rescuers have found a helicopter that was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country鈥檚 foreign minister and other officials that had apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran the day before, though 鈥渘o sign of life鈥� was detected, state media reported.

As the sun rose Monday, rescuers saw the helicopter from a distance of some 2 kilometers (1.25 miles), the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir Hossein Kolivand, told state media. He did not elaborate and the officials had been missing at that point by over 12 hours.

Raisi was traveling in Iran鈥檚 East Azerbaijan province. State TV said what it called a 鈥渉ard landing鈥� happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Later, state TV put it farther east near the village of Uzi, but details remained contradictory.

With Raisi were Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran鈥檚 East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. One local government official used the word 鈥渃rash,鈥� but others referred to either a 鈥渉ard landing鈥� or an 鈥渋ncident.鈥�

Footage released by the IRNA early Monday showed what the agency described as the crash site, across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language said: 鈥淭here it is, we found it.鈥�

Shortly after, state TV in an on-screen scrolling text said: 鈥淭here is no sign of life from people on board.鈥� It did not elaborate, but the semiofficial Tasnim news agency showed rescuers using a small drone to fly over the site, with them speaking among themselves saying the same thing.

JERUSALEM 鈥� The crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country鈥檚 foreign minister and other officials is likely to reverberate across the Middle East.

That鈥檚 because Iran has spent decades supporting armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Palestinian territories that allow it to project power and potentially deter attacks from the United States or Israel, the sworn enemies of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tensions have never been higher than they were last month, when Iran under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an airstrike on an Iranian Consulate in Syria that killed two Iranian generals and five officers.

Israel, with the help of the U.S., Britain, Jordan and others, intercepted nearly all the projectiles. In response, Israel apparently launched its own strike against an air defense radar system in the Iranian city of Isfahan, causing no casualties but sending an unmistakable message.

The sides have waged a shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, but the exchange of fire in April was their first direct military confrontation.