The abrupt death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, also known as "The Butcher of Tehran," in a helicopter crash has sparked a flurry of speculation and rumors about Israeli involvement, with one Hamas-affiliated Telegram channel claiming the pilot was an Israeli Mossad agent named "Eli Kopter."
Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., joined "America's Newsroom" to discuss the latest on the NY v. Trump trial in Manhattan and his reaction to the abrupt death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were among those confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country's northwest. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and Iran has not suggested sabotage.
However, shortly after news of the crash broke, a Hamas-affiliated Telegram channel called "Al-Qassam Correspondent" posted a message claiming that the helicopter pilot was an Israeli Mossad agent named Eli Kopter.
This rumor was then amplified by a political analyst at i24 News France, who reported on the rumors about "Eli Kopter" on the air. Fox News reached out to i24 for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
An Israeli official denied to Reuters that the country had any involvement in the deadly crash, saying bluntly, "it wasn't us."
The deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian have left the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East. Iran's proxy group Hamas is currently engaged in a months-long war with Israel, which was ignited by terrorist attacks on Israeli soil.
Raisi had previously predicted more terrorist attacks against Israel, stating in January that "We know that ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation will bring about the end of the Zionist regime."
In April, Iran launched dozens of drones into Israeli territory after an attack on a consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed seven high-ranking IRGC members.
Shortly after, Iran issued a statement through its United Nations mission in New York that appeared to offer Israel a way to prevent further escalation if it considers the conflict "concluded."
"The matter can be deemed concluded," the mission argued. "However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!"
As speculation about Raisi's death continues, it is crucial to note that no official cause has been determined and that Iran has not provided any evidence of sabotage.
