a decision is expected at the high court in london where supporters of mr assange are already gathering. hello, i'm sarah campbell. we start with breaking news. iran has confirmed the death of president ebrahim raisi, who died along with the foreign minister when their helicopter crashed on sunday. their bodies have now been recovered from the crash site. it's thought another 7 people might have been on the helicopter, which crashed in thick fog and rain. the search took place in a mountainous area in north—western iran near tabriz and was hampered by the bad weather. graham satchell has the story. search teams have been scouring the mountains of north—west iran all night.

thick fog and heavy rain have hampered efforts, but in the early hours of this morning, this, a drone sent by turkey identified a source of heat. footage shows an aerial view of a landscape at night and a dark blotch on what appears to be a hillside. when rescuers eventually reach the wreckage on foot, they found the helicopter which had been carrying iran's president and the foreign minister was completely burned with no signs of life. and soon after, confirmation that both iran's president ebrahim raisi and the foreign minister have been killed in the crash. the servant of the iranian people, president raisi, the president of the republic of iran was serving the people of the public of iran. president raisi, seen here on the left, had been visiting a dam project. this is footage of him earlier in the day travelling in a convoy

of three helicopters. he became the president in 2021 and was responsible for tightening morality laws and oversaw a ruthless repression and were seen as a potential successor to the supreme leader. his death will have a profound impact on iran and the wider middle east. with more on this i'm joined from the newsroom by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. hello. clearly tragic circumstances. no doubt a shock for iran and the iranian people. just take us through what happens now in terms of the power structure in iran. a huge shock to iran, this unprecedented and tragic accident. but under the constitution iran power has now transferred to the iranian vice

president. he is head of the judiciary and the speaker of the parliament and is charged with organising early presidential elections in iran.— organising early presidential elections in iran. organising early presidential electionsinlran. ., elections in iran. those have to be held within — elections in iran. those have to be held within the _ elections in iran. those have to be held within the next _ elections in iran. those have to be held within the next 50 _ elections in iran. those have to be held within the next 50 days. - elections in iran. those have to be held within the next 50 days. this | held within the next 50 days. this is an absolutely critical moment for iran's really concerted —— ruling conservatives. he was very much part of it. they will want to send a message of continuity and stability of the islamic republic both to iran and to its supporters as well as to its opponents inside and outside the country. it also knows the world is watching. country. it also knows the world is watchinu. ~ ., ., .,~ ., watching. what do you make of the international _ watching. what do you make of the international reaction _ watching. what do you make of the international reaction that - watching. what do you make of the international reaction that we - watching. what do you make of the international reaction that we have | international reaction that we have seen so far, obviously condolences several countries. in terms of the international dynamic during tension international dynamic during tension in the middle east does this change any of that dynamic? so in the middle east does this change any of that dynamic?— any of that dynamic? so far the exwessions _ any of that dynamic? so far the expressions of _ any of that dynamic? so far the expressions of grief, _ any of that dynamic? so far the

expressions of grief, sadness, l expressions of grief, sadness, shock, sympathy for iran, have come from iran's allies, particularly in the region, in what is known as the axis of resistance, the militias allied to iran which have been playing an increasingly powerful role during the tensions of recent months over the israel gaza war. iran's neighbours pakistan, india, have also been expressing concern and sorrow, saying their hearts are with iran. there has not been any reaction from those countries in which iran has had for many decades now tense relations. there was a statement from israel from an anonymous source speaking to one of the news agencies saying that if iran is responsible in any way, encase questions arise that they may have been foul play in this helicopter crash. but when it comes to iran's direction on foreign policy there will no change. that

decision—making power rested with the ultimate authority in the republic, the supreme leader ayatollah khomeini, as well as the islamic revolutionary guard who holds sway over iran was back foreign policy, particularly in the region. foreign policy, particularly in the reuion. ., ~' foreign policy, particularly in the reuion. ., ~ ., foreign policy, particularly in the re.ion_ ., ~' ., ., foreign policy, particularly in the reuion. ., ~ ., ., . region. thank you for the moment. we can seak region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to — region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to the _ region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to the head _ region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to the head of _ region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to the head of the _ region. thank you for the moment. we can speak to the head of the middle i can speak to the head of the middle east programme at the swedish institute of international affairs. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. reaction coming into the death of the president and the foreign minister. we were just listening to our international affairs corresponded talking about the fact that this does not necessarily change the dynamic, does not necessarily change the tensions which are obviously such a major part of middle east politics at the moment. what is your take on the implications of the death of the president of iran? has implications of the death of the president of iran?— implications of the death of the

president of iran? as lyse doucet was saying. _ president of iran? as lyse doucet was saying, there _ president of iran? as lyse doucet was saying, there is _ president of iran? as lyse doucet was saying, there is a _ president of iran? as lyse doucet was saying, there is a baseline i president of iran? as lyse doucet| was saying, there is a baseline set for foreign was saying, there is a baseline set forforeign policy was saying, there is a baseline set for foreign policy which was saying, there is a baseline set forforeign policy which is was saying, there is a baseline set for foreign policy which is set collectively, so therefore the president can modulate it but not really set it himself, so there will be no change on that. but the big question now is whether the conservatives, who belong to all kind of camps within that family, if they can find another unifying candidate because that in the end was president raisi's unique selling point. it was the one person who could front the conservative attempt to take over the state wholeheartedly and now he is gone the question is is there anyone among them who the rest of them can live with to be the president? maybe take us through _ live with to be the president? maybe take us through what _ live with to be the president? maybe take us through what we _ live with to be the president? maybe take us through what we expect - live with to be the president? maybe take us through what we expect over the next 50 days and obviously there is a power vacuum there in terms of the president, and who are the rival candidates? who the president, and who are the rival candidates?— the president, and who are the rival candidates? who are we looking at? the are candidates? who are we looking at? they are the — candidates? who are we looking at? they are the usual— candidates? who are we looking at? they are the usual suspects, - candidates? who are we looking at? they are the usual suspects, people j they are the usual suspects, people who have been the parliamentary speaker or the head of the

revolutionary guard. these have been people who have tried to become president before and set themselves up president before and set themselves up for it eventually at some point, maybe being able to reach that position. but they have always found enemies within their own camps who could stop their ascent. all of these might gear up again. they only have 50 days according to the constitution to arrange an election and the next question is what the iranians council will do because they vet the candidates. will anyone of any value be allowed to stand? will the conservatives get themselves together and will the reformers try to challenge them by putting up a good candidate, if only to have it shot down by the governing council.- to have it shot down by the governing council. to have it shot down by the uaovernin council. ., ., , governing council. how important is the role of president _ governing council. how important is the role of president in _ governing council. how important is the role of president in iran? - the role of president in iran? 0bviously the role of president in iran? obviously you have the ayatollah, so where does the president sit in the power structure?—

power structure? usually the president's — power structure? usually the president's mandate - power structure? usually the president's mandate comes i power structure? usually the - president's mandate comes from the people. iran is a democracy, so these are engineered elections, but nonetheless they tended to allow for certain feedback on society. president raisi was elected by first making sure they were no others standing against him, so the voter turnout was not very good. so you could say that the president often ends up looking hands with the supreme leader because his mandate is different, but with president raisi that never happened because he was very much the supreme leader's mann, who we never get to see now, but that is the question. who is going to follow on? and whether that will be as much of an apparatchik as president raisi was. hand will be as much of an apparatchik as president raisi was.— will be as much of an apparatchik as president raisi was. and how do you see relations — president raisi was. and how do you see relations between _ president raisi was. and how do you see relations between iran _ president raisi was. and how do you see relations between iran and - president raisi was. and how do you j see relations between iran and other countries, particularly israel, being chased by the death of the president? does that not have an

impact? i president? does that not have an im act? ., �* ~' president? does that not have an im act? ., �* ~ ., impact? i don't think it will have that much _ impact? i don't think it will have that much of— impact? i don't think it will have that much of an _ impact? i don't think it will have that much of an impact. - impact? i don't think it will have that much of an impact. the - impact? i don't think it will have - that much of an impact. the greater impact will be iranians policy and the iranians for an minister, not because he wants control of important values, because he is the diplomatic face for the outside. he is the key outreach to the gulf states. his presidency was much more keen on trying to mend fences with neighbours. forthem it keen on trying to mend fences with neighbours. for them it was important to find better neighbourly relations and abdulla yan, who could speak a bit of arabic was helpful. thank you very much from the swedish national institute of international affairs. with me is parham ghobadi from bbc persian. can you tell us a little bit about president raisi and what kind of man he was and to standing within the

iranian people who must really be in shock today because two members of the government have been killed? the reaction the government have been killed? tue: reaction is the government have been killed? tte: reaction is first the government have been killed? tt2 reaction is first of all to this news has been a really different. yes, there were people who were pro—government people who are praying in tehran last night, lighting candles for him, hoping and wishing that he would come back alive. but you see on social media that many iranians are celebrating, especially those who have lost a member of their family, especially those who have lost a member of theirfamily, their especially those who have lost a member of their family, their loved ones, those who remained, those who lost their eyes during the protests from the security forces, they were celebrating. very prominent iranian opposition figure who lost wife and child, he made a tweet saying iranians people have been robbed of the opportunity to bring this criminal tojustice. this person will be etched in history in the

dark shroud of criminality. so there is a division towards his death. however, president raisi was a person who came into politics and he became the deputy prosecutor. that is a very important part of his life. he was involved in issuing death sentences to thousands of iranian dissidents inside the country, the mass executions of iranian dissidents. he is known for that. ~ , . ., , iranian dissidents. he is known for that. ,. that. will his critics be hoping that. will his critics be hoping that this might _ that. will his critics be hoping that this might lead _ that. will his critics be hoping that this might lead to - that. will his critics be hoping that this might lead to a - that. will his critics be hoping l that this might lead to a change that. will his critics be hoping - that this might lead to a change of approach from the iranian regime towards its own people? t approach from the iranian regime towards its own people?- towards its own people? i don't think so, it _ towards its own people? i don't think so, it will _ towards its own people? i don't think so, it will be _ towards its own people? i don't think so, it will be business - towards its own people? i don't think so, it will be business as. think so, it will be business as usual. as the previous guest mentioned, there is a guardian council which has proven in the past two elections, the presidential elections, when president raisi was elected and in the latest parliamentary election, that no

person will be qualified to run in the race. they have been disqualifying everyone who is not loyal to the iranian supreme leader, therefore even after his death at therefore even after his death at the person who is going to be running for presidency in the 50 daysis running for presidency in the 50 days is going to be probably a conservative hardliner and ally of the iranian supreme leader. thank ou ve the iranian supreme leader. thank you very much _ the iranian supreme leader. thank you very much for _ the iranian supreme leader. thank you very much for your— the iranian supreme leader. thank you very much for your time - the iranian supreme leader. thank you very much for your time and l the iranian supreme leader. thankl you very much for your time and for coming in. ishould you very much for your time and for coming in. i should let you know that the iran supreme leader, news coming in this morning, has declared national morning for five days. keep an eye on our website. we do have a live page running about the helicopter crash. just log onto bbc dot ko .uk and go via the bbc app. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

an inquiry into the uk's biggest health scandal is due to release its final report later today. more than 30,000 people were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. after being given contaminated blood products by the nhs. many of them died as a result, and others onto their partners — some of whom died. we know that more than 3000 people have died. 0verall 30,000 victims have died. 0verall 30,000 victims have been identified and these full into two main categories. people

with rare genetic blood clotting disorder such as haemophiliacs and people who needed transfusions after surgery. let's start with the first group, the haemophiliacs. these people need a special protein called factor eight r factor 90 injected that helps their blood clot. by the 19705 the uk was really struggling to meet demand for these blood products and so they started to import from america. but because america pays for blood plasma rather thanit america pays for blood plasma rather than it being donated for free america pays for blood plasma rather than it being donated forfree it came from a lot of high—risk individuals, including prisoners, drug addicts and those most in need of money. with these donations came some deadly viral infection such as hepatitis c and hiv. in the late 705 us drug companies were aware their product was infected with viruses, including hepatitis, but they didn't take steps to stop that transmission. instead what they did is they mix together ever larger batch numbers of donations,

sometimes up to 50,000 plasma donations would be mixed together in one batch and it tookjust one infected donor to infect the entire batch. by1983 infected donor to infect the entire batch. by 1983 the pharmaceutical companies were not aware there was a link between haemophiliacs and hiv, but instead of raising the alarm that kept it quiet. some medics and whistle—blowers did try to raise the alarm around the world but the health officials did not listen. we now know that 1250 people were infected with hiv and hepatitis c who had blood clotting disorders in this country. 320 were children and almost all have now died. let's look at the second group of people, those with blood transfusions. there are given transfusions during surgery or after childbirth or an accident. they were infected with hepatitis c. it was known that blood transfusions could affect people with hepatitis as early as the 19705 but those that

were exposed were not tested, even when testing was available and minimum effort was made to identify those infected. even now we still have people coming forward in this country who have been diagnosed decades after their infection but often it is too late. hepatitis attacks the liver leading to cirrhosis and eventually cancer, so a late diagnosis often comes with a dire prognosis. the inquiry said that through blood transfusion treatment up to 27,000 people were infected with hepatitis c and between 80 and 100 got hiv. during the inquiry we heard from the children that grew up as orphans, mothers who bury their children and husbands unknowingly passing on infections to their wives. victim said they were ignored by doctors and were treated as dirty or second—class citizens by the nhs. victims and their families have waited 40 years forjustice. the focus now is on compensation. chloe

hayward reporting. let's speak to our news correspondent rajini vaidyanathan who is outside methodist central hall in westminster. a huge day for all the families and people infected by the infected blood scandal. just tell us where you are now and what the atmosphere is like where you are now and what people are hoping and expecting. well, family members have been arriving here. they are going to be getting a copy of the report and at 12:30pm today that will be made public, the findings of the inquiry which has lasted some four years. for so many relatives and people who have survived through the scandal it has been a long time coming and there are a few things people want today, the family members and the campaigners. they want truth, they

wantjustice campaigners. they want truth, they want justice and campaigners. they want truth, they wantjustice and they want accountability. let's start with truth. they want to know what exactly happened. how could it be that so many people, thousands we have heard from just then, were treated using a blood product which was infected with hiv and hepatitis c? hundreds of children ended up dying too soon as a consequence. thousands of people have died. we heard from the labour mp diana johnson who has been a campaigner for this and she said that it is estimated every three to four days somebody dies as a consequence of what happens decades ago. so it is truth and it is also justice as well. they want people to know that they want not just well. they want people to know that they want notjust compensation, it is notjust about money, it is also knowing that they were right all along. so many families say they felt they were gas lit. there were warnings at the time, even as early as 1983, that these products were coming overfrom

as 1983, that these products were coming over from america, as 1983, that these products were coming overfrom america, this factor eight, was infected with hiv and hepatitis c but those warnings were not heeded. it was continue to be used and was seen in some ways as a wonder drug, a product that helps treat haemophilia in children in a more efficient way. and then the last one is accountability because we are not too far from downing street and the house of commons and people want to know who will be held accountable for this. in many ways this is ongoing politics because the scandal has happened through successive governments with different political parties in charge. but they will start with the current government and some people will say they want to know whether there might be an apology later today. we are expecting to hear from the prime minister wants the report's findings are released. will he apologise? who report's findings are released. will he apologise?— report's findings are released. will he apologise? report's findings are released. will he aoloise? ~ ., ~ ., 2 , he apologise? who knows? we will be caettin back he apologise? who knows? we will be getting back to — he apologise? who knows? we will be getting back to you — he apologise? who knows? we will be getting back to you throughout - he apologise? who knows? we will be getting back to you throughout the - getting back to you throughout the day as this hugely important report is published. for the moment, thank you. now to the war in gaza and the white house says

president biden's national security adviser has called on israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu to match israel's military operation against hamas fighters in gaza with a "political strategy" for the future of the palestinian enclave. jake sullivan met mr netanyahu and other leaders, restating the need for israeli forces to minimise civilian casualties. meanwhile, in gaza, the fighting continues. palestinian sources say at least 31 people were killed in an israeli airstrike in nuseirat, in central gaza. the israeli military has said it has struck dozens of what it calls terror targets over the last 2a hours. efforts to deliver aid to gaza continue. this footage shows trucks lining up on the floating pier which was built by the us, before being towed to the gaza coastline. you can make out the vehicles, with their flat load beds,

and upright driver's cabins, facing right to left, heading towards the ship delivering aid. these pictures, filmed nearby, show queues of people waiting for aid to be delivered. the un says fighting near the southern crossings at rafah and kerem shalom are resulting in those routes effectively being blocked, making deliveries by sea increasingly important. live now tojerusalem and our correspondent danjohnson. let's start with reports on the israeli air strike which had already been cleared by the israeli military. explain what we know what might have happened. this military. explain what we know what might have happened.— military. explain what we know what might have happened. this is an area in central gaza _ might have happened. this is an area in central gaza and _ might have happened. this is an area in central gaza and we _ might have happened. this is an area in central gaza and we know - might have happened. this is an area in central gaza and we know there . in central gaza and we know there were air strikes in the early hours of sunday morning which the israeli air force said were targeting hamas fighters who reappeared in that area. this is a part of gaza that

the israeli military had cleared earlier this year but they have had to return to it in terms of putting soldiers on the ground and also conducting air strikes. as well as taking out hamas fighters we understand that quite a number of civilians, women and children, were caught up in that attack and the death toll reported currently stands at 31. there were further air strikes in different parts of gaza last night as well with reports of more people at least wounded in hospital and the potential for that death toll to climb even further. 0n aid the national security adviser for the united states has been in israel yesterday and is carrying on his meetings today, urging the israeli leadership to increase the amount of aid that is able to get into gaza and to safeguard humanitarian aid workers on the ground to make sure they can do their work and to make sure those supplies get to people without their lives being put at risk. we understand yesterday around 420 trucks of aid made it into gaza via

land routes, less than what would usually be the case. it is more than recent days but still not up to the level that international organisations say are needed to feed it all the palestinian refugees who are struggling to find somewhere safe to shelter from the military action and to find enough food to feed themselves. the other message the us national security advisor brings is for benjamin netanyahu to set out a future plan for gaza. this is what is being called for by figures at the top of israeli politics. the prime minister has been openly challenged to lay out his plan for how the people in gaza will be covered in future, how the rebuilding effort will be coordinated, what are effectively will come when the fighting stops. but so far benjamin netanyahu has refused to engage with that question, he has not given much hint as what he sees as a feature for gaza, reverting to his priorities of focusing purely on eradicating hamas

and getting back the remaining israeli hostages. lian and getting back the remaining israeli hostages.— and getting back the remaining israeli hostages. dan johnson in jerusalem. _ israeli hostages. dan johnson in jerusalem, thank _ israeli hostages. dan johnson in jerusalem, thank you. - israeli hostages. dan johnson in jerusalem, thank you. just - israeli hostages. dan johnson in jerusalem, thank you. just a - jerusalem, thank you. just a reminder of our top story. iran's supreme leader said that on monday the first vice president is in charge of the executive branch and has a maximum period of 50 days to hold elections following the death of president raisi in a helicopter cries. five days of national mourning have also been announced. stay with us here on bbc news. contrasting conditions as we head through this week. it is a dry and warm start with temperatures still above the seasonal average with a lot of sunny spells around. but it will be turning cooler and wetter and windier as we head through the middle part of the week with persistent outbreaks of rain and temperatures returning back to the seasonal average. this is how we

start off on monday morning. a fresh appeal to things. patchy mist and fog around, lots of low cloud on the eastern coastal areas moving in from the north sea, but sunshine will get to work on that low cloud. after a great start there will be sunny spells coming through, even in eastern spells of scotland and to the north—east of england where it has been cloudy and cool of late. cooler and drier air but with the unsure breeze it will feel a bit colder here. a scattering of showers in northern ireland, north wales and a few showers for southern england, but for most of us it is dry and warm with a lot of sunshine as well. showers overnight on monday into tuesday pushing northwards and westwards. any clearer spells out towards the east and temperatures could drop as low as four celsius. it is frost free for this time of year. into tuesday there will be

further showers which will be tracking their way northwards and westwards and showers coming in with heavy downpours of rain moving into the south east of england. more showers across wales and northern ireland. but it will still feel warm for this time of year with bright and sunny spells, possibly 23 degrees in south—west scotland. further south and east in london it is the chelsea flower show as we head through much of the rest of the week. be prepared for lower temperatures and a bit of wet weather at times as well. this area of low pressure will be moving in from the near continent as we head in from wednesday to thursday, tracking further northwards and westwards with heavy downpours of rain but still a lot of certainty. turning water, windier, cooler with temperatures closer to the seasonal average as we had through wednesday into thursday possibly turning a bit warmer again at the start of the weekend. goodbye.

contrasting conditions as we head through this week.

this is bbc news — the headlines... iran's president and foreign minister are killed after their helicopter went down in the northwest of the country. the two men were returning from a visit to the border with azerbaijan — there appear to be no survivors. waiting for the truth — the public inquiry into the uk's infected blood scandal

will publish its final report later. taiwan's new president is sworn into office at a time of heightened tensions with china. and coming up roses — the world—famous chelsea flower show gets under way in london. let's mark now on iran confining the death of president ebrahim raisi who died along with the foreign minister when their helicopter crashed on sunday. let's speak now to someone from the university of iran. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. clearly shocking and tragic events of the last day. how is the death of the president and foreign minister being reacted to by the iranian people?