A chopper carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountains terrain in heavy fog on the way back, news agency Reuters reported citing Iranian state television. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is reportedly holding an emergency meeting with the National Security Council.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials were also reportedly present in the chopper along with Raisi.
The lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”, which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest, Iranian officials were quoted by news agency Reuters.
The Iranian state-run media outlets said Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and that the incident happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 600 kilometres (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. IRNA called the area where the incident happened a “forest.”
However, no official confirmation has been received from the Iranian government.
Rescue Teams Dispatched, Search Operation On
As per Iranian state-run PressTV, ambulances and rescue teams have been dispatched to find the copter carrying President Raeisi and three other officials. As per Press TV, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pirhossein Kolivand, informed that a search and rescue team has reached near the potential accident site.
The Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces informed that the armed forces of the country have joined the search operation.
Heavy rains and poor weather are hampering the efforts of rescuers to reach the site. Heavy rain with wind are being reported from the area.
US President Calls Emergency Meet
Amid the ongoing reports of a helicopter crash in which the Iranian President Raisi was travelling, US President Joe Biden on Sunday interrupted his vacation and returned to the White House for an emergency meeting
It has been reported that US officials believe that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been assassinated.
Raisi Visiting Azerbaijan
Raisi was in neighbouring Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River.
The visit came despite chilly relations between the two nations, including over a gun attack on Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran in 2023, and Azerbaijan’s diplomatic relations with Israel, which Iran’s Shiite theocracy views as its main enemy in the region.
Iran flies a variety of helicopters in the country, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them. Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Raisi won Iran’s 2021 presidential election, but the voting saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. Raisi is sanctioned by the US in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the bloody Iran-Iraq war.
World Leaders Praying For Iranian President
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concerns over Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash and wrote, “Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage.”
Raising concern over Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s chopper crash, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev took to X and wrote, “Today, after meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, we were seriously worried by the news that the helicopter carrying the high delegation made an emergency landing in Iran.”
“Our prayers to Almighty God are with President Ibrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation. As a neighboring, friendly and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan is ready to provide all kinds of support,” he added.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his concerns and said, “Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyed Ibrahim Raisi’s helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation.”
Praying for Raisi’s well-being, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on X wrote, “Deeply concerned to hear news about the helicopter incident carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdullahian & others. My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation.”
