An Iranian official told Reuters that a chopper carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday while crossing rocky terrain in heavy fog, and rescuers were battling to reach the scene.
The official stated that the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash,” which occurred on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest.
“We are still hopeful, but the information coming from the crash site is very concerning,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Inclement weather caused the crash, delaying rescue attempts
According to state television, at least one passenger and one crew member communicated with rescuers. It also claimed that the chopper had been discovered, however, the Iranian Red Crescent denied this report.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power and has the final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, attempted to reassure Iranians, stating there would be no disturbance to state business.
According to Iranian official media, inclement weather caused the crash, delaying rescue attempts. According to the state news agency IRNA, Raisi was flying in a Bell 212 helicopter manufactured in the United States.
The chief of staff of Iran’s army ordered that all army and special Revolutionary Guard resources be used for search and rescue operations.
Previously, the national network halted all regular programming to show prayers for Raisi across the country.
In the early hours of Monday, it showed a rescue squad hunched over a GPS gadget while searching a pitch-black mountaintop on foot in a snowy blizzard.
“We are thoroughly searching every inch of the general area of the crash,” state media quoted a regional army commander as saying. “The area has very cold, rainy, and foggy weather conditions. The rain is gradually turning into snow.”
Neighboring countries voiced concern and offered support for any rescue efforts. The White House stated that US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the crash reports. Turkey said it had dispatched a drone, a helicopter, trucks, and a rescue crew in response to the Iranian authorities’ request. The European Union provided emergency satellite mapping technology to assist Iran with its hunt.
The crash comes during a period of rising opposition in Iran over a variety of political, social, and economic concerns
The crash comes during a period of rising opposition in Iran over a variety of political, social, and economic concerns. Iran’s clerical rulers are under international pressure over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program and its growing military links with Russia during the conflict in Ukraine.
Since Iran’s partner Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, prompting Israel’s war on Gaza, conflicts involving Iran-aligned groups have flared up across the Middle East.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021 and has since ordered a tightening of morality rules, a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, and a strong push in nuclear talks with foreign powers.
