Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Crashes in Heavy Fog, Rescue Efforts Hindered
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday while traversing mountainous terrain in dense fog, an Iranian official informed Reuters. Rescuers faced challenges in reaching the crash site.
According to the official, the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash,” which occurred during their return from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest.
“We are still hopeful, but information coming from the crash site is very concerning,” the official stated, speaking anonymously.
Iranian state media reported that poor weather conditions caused the crash and were hindering rescue operations. The chief of staff of Iran’s army commanded that all army and elite Revolutionary Guard resources be mobilized for search and rescue efforts.
“It is dark and it has started raining, but the search continues. Rescue teams have reached the area… however, the rain has created mud, making the search difficult,” a local reporter told state TV.
Earlier, state TV interrupted its regular programming to broadcast prayers for Raisi across the nation, along with live coverage of rescue teams navigating the mountainous region in heavy fog.
Rescue teams were anticipated to reach the probable crash site later on Sunday evening.
The crash occurs amid rising dissent in Iran over various political, social, and economic issues. Iran’s clerical rulers are under international pressure concerning Tehran’s controversial nuclear program and its increasing military ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
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Since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, triggering Israel’s assault on Gaza, clashes involving Iran-aligned groups have intensified across the Middle East.
Raisi, 63, elected president in 2021, has since enforced stricter morality laws, overseen a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, and taken a tough stance in nuclear negotiations with world powers.
In Iran’s dual political system, divided between the clerical establishment and the government, Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader since 1989, has the final say on all major policies.
Many have long considered Raisi a strong candidate to succeed Khamenei, who has supported Raisi’s principal policies.
Raisi’s victory in the tightly controlled 2021 election brought all branches of power under hardliner control, following eight years when pragmatist Hassan Rouhani held the presidency and a nuclear deal was negotiated with Washington.
However, Raisi’s position may have been weakened by widespread protests against clerical rule and his failure to improve Iran’s economy, which remains crippled by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who bid a “friendly farewell” to Raisi earlier that day, offered assistance in the rescue. Neighboring Iraq also offered help.
The White House stated that US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the reports about the crash.
Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Crashes in Heavy Fog, Rescue Efforts Hindered