A triumph by Masoud might promote a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over now-stalled negotiations with major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, and improve prospects for social liberalisation and political pluralism, analysts said.
The Council disqualified hardline former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, a prominent conservative.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be barred from the race: the country's cleric-led Guardian Council will vet candidates, and publish the list of qualified ones on June 11.
Moderate politicians have accused the 12-member hardline Guardian Council of disqualifying rivals to hardline candidates, who are expected to dominate the upcoming presidential race.
More details would be released as the investigation advanced, the report said.
Flowers were thrown at his coffin as it moved slowly aboard a truck through throngs of mourners to be buried at the gold-domed Imam Reza shrine, Iran's holiest Islamic site.
The President's helicopter crashed against a mountaintop in the Varzaqan region on May 19.
They include Mozambique's Samora Machel, Macedonia's Boris Trajkovski, Rwanda’s Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundi's President Cyprien Ntaryamira.
It is worth noting that Bell Helicopter also produced the Bell Huey II helicopter, the model in the crash that killed Kenya's top general, Francis Ogolla, in April 2023.
Ruto described Raisi as a "fearless leader and dedicated public servant with a long and distinguished career in public service."
Iran now has a maximum period of 50 days before a presidential election must be held to choose Raisi's successor.
Raisi, who has previously described Africa as a "continent of opportunities", said he wanted to boost commercial ties with African countries.
Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's first vice president who, based on the country's constitution, is expected to become interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
According to article 131 of the Islamic Republic's constitution, if a president dies in office the first vice president takes over, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.
"President Raisi's helicopter was completely burned in the crash ... unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead," the official told Reuters.
Iranian State TV quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and one crew member had been in contact with rescuers.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were "at risk following the helicopter crash".
The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said the helicopter involved in the incident had been carrying Raisi as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and local officials.
