A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed on Sunday while navigating mountainous terrain in heavy fog, according to an Iranian official who spoke to Reuters. The incident occurred as they were returning from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in northwest Iran. Rescuers are currently struggling to reach the crash site.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Raisi and Amirabdollahian’s lives are “at risk following the helicopter crash.” Although state TV reported that at least one passenger and one crew member had contacted rescuers and that the helicopter had been located, this claim was later denied by Iran’s Red Crescent.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that state affairs would continue uninterrupted. Iranian state media attributed the crash to adverse weather conditions, which are also hindering rescue efforts. The state news agency IRNA mentioned that Raisi was aboard a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
In response to the incident, the chief of staff of Iran’s army has mobilized all available resources from the army and the elite Revolutionary Guard for search and rescue operations. Earlier, national broadcasters halted regular programming to broadcast prayers for Raisi across the nation.
Rescue teams, shown by state media in the early hours of Monday, were seen navigating a dark, snowy mountainside, utilizing GPS devices amidst a blizzard. A regional army commander stated that they are thoroughly searching the crash area despite the challenging weather conditions, which include cold, rain, and fog turning into snow.
International responses included offers of assistance from neighboring countries and the European Union, which offered emergency satellite mapping technology. Turkey has dispatched a drone, a helicopter, vehicles, and a rescue team at Iran’s request. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation.
The crash comes amid growing internal dissent in Iran over political, social, and economic crises, and as international scrutiny intensifies regarding Tehran’s nuclear program and its military ties with Russia. President Raisi, seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Khamenei, was elected in 2021 and has since been a prominent figure in Iran’s political landscape, known for his hardline stance and crackdown on anti-government protests.
Raisi was visiting the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project with Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who had earlier bid farewell to Raisi, has also offered assistance in the rescue efforts.
