The government of Iran assured today in a statement that the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raishi in a helicopter crash will not cause “the slightest disruption of the governance” of the country.

“The president of the Iranian people, hardworking and tireless (…) sacrificed his life for the nation,” the government reacted to his death. “We assure the faithful nation that with the help of God and the support of the people there will not be the slightest disturbance in the governance of the country,” he added.

The government will hold an “emergency meeting” today, the official Iranian news agency Irna reported, without elaborating on the time and topics to be discussed.

The Iranian Constitution provides that the country’s president is replaced in the event of his death by the first deputy prime minister, Mohammad Mohbar in this case, and then provides for presidential elections to be held within 50 days.

The Tehran Stock Exchange was closed today following the announcement of President Raisi’s death, board member Reza Eyvazlou was quoted as saying by Iran’s Mehr news agency.

The helicopter carrying Iranian President and Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian along with seven other passengers and crew members disappeared from radar yesterday, Sunday, while flying over a rugged and forested area in northwest Iran amid adverse weather conditions, with rain and dense fog. Its wreckage was found at dawn today on a mountainside.