Who Was the Governor of East Azerbaijan Who Died with Raisi?

Malek Rahmati, one of the passengers on the crashed helicopter carrying the Iranian president, served as the governor of East Azerbaijan province. 

Many believe he reached this influential position through his father-in-law, Mustafa Seyed Hashemi, a former MP.

Rahmati was reputedly close to the Shia militia group Hosseiniun, which operates in the Republic of Azerbaijan and is critical of the Ilham Aliyev government.

His tenure as governor was brief, lasting only four months before his untimely death in the crash alongside President Ebrahim Raisi. 

At 42, he was the youngest governor in Raisi's administration.

He graduated from Imam Sadegh University and held advanced degrees in private law from Tehran's Kharazmi University and Tarbiat Moallem University.

Rahmati's rise to power followed the death of Zainulabdin Razavi Khorram, the former governor of East Azerbaijan earlier this year.

Mustafa Seyed Hashemi, Rahmati's father-in-law, is a significant political figure in East Azerbaijan and a deputy coordinator at the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order.

Despite his youth, Rahmati had significant responsibilities, including serving as the deputy in charge of Astan Quds Razavi from 2021 to 2023, an institution where Ebrahim Raisi had previously held a prominent position.

Rahmati's affiliations extended to the Hosseinioun militia, which he frequently promoted on his social media platforms, particularly Instagram.

A local from East Azerbaijan described Rahmati as an active and trusted member of Ali Khamenei's economic network, with close ties to security agencies like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its intelligence wing.

Yashar Hakakpour, an activist and former political prisoner, corroborated Rahmati's connections with the Hosseiniun camp, emphasizing his active presence on social media and his promotion of the group.

The Azerbaijan Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hosseiniun, is a Shia militia and socio-political movement in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Similar to other groups like Fatemioun, Zeinebiuun, and Heydarioun, it aligns closely with the axis of Islamic resistance and is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The movement was founded and is currently led by Towheed Ebrahimi Bigli, who is also known as Hojjatul Islam Ebrahimi.

He is a vocal critic of Ilham Aliyev's government and has articulated that the movement aims to empower the Shia community in Azerbaijan by fostering a discourse of resistance and strengthening their socio-political foundations.

Ebrahimi entered the Mashhad seminary in 2001 and currently lives in Iran.

The Hosseiniun Brigade has often been labeled as a new proxy force for Iran, mirroring other resistance groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The Azerbaijani government has accused the group of having extensive ties with Iranian institutions.

In an interview with Javan newspaper, affiliated to the IRGC, the brigade's founder stated that the group's formal establishment occurred in 2017 during a meeting with Qassem Soleimani.

He attributed many of Azerbaijan's current problems "to the influence of Zionists."

The movement has faced criticism from figures like Yashar Hakakpour, who mentioned Malek Rahmati's populist behavior in Tabriz.

According to Hakakpour, Rahmati's actions, such as adopting revolutionary postures and confrontational tactics, were more about creating an image than genuine commitment.

Rahmati has been accused of sidelining established fundamentalist figures to advance his own associates and business interests.

Rahmati's ascent to power is noted to be swift, facilitated by his marriage into a politically influential family.

His father, a restaurant owner, contrasted sharply with Rahmati's ambitious pursuit of power, which saw him rise rapidly through political ranks, only to fall alongside the president.

The young governor's wife is the daughter of a prominent figure with a significant political background, having served four terms in the parliament.

It is believed that without his connection to this influential family, Rahmati's rapid ascent in the political arena would have been unlikely.

Mustafa Seyedhashmi represented Maragheh and Ajabshir in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Parliaments.

He was a member of the Industries Commission and the Special Commission of Article 44 of the 7th Parliament.

Malik Rahmati, the 42-year-old governor of East Azerbaijan province, previously served as the deputy governor of Astan Quds Razavi and the head of the Astan Quds Razavi Endowment Productivity Foundation.

His extensive resume includes various high-ranking positions in academic, governmental, and economic organizations, showcasing his broad influence and the likely support from his powerful in-laws.