Picture of Iranian President’s chopper taking off earlier than the crash passed off.
A helicopter with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian onboard has crashed within the mountains of the Jofa area of the western province of East Azerbaijan, reviews mentioned.
The 63-year-old Iranian President was visiting the province at this time, the place he inaugurated a dam venture with Azerbaijanian President Ilham Aliev, on the border between the 2 nations. Iran’s Supreme Chief Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei has instructed residents to ‘not fear’ after Raisi’s helicopter crash.
“Lives At Threat”
The helicopter was a part of a chopper fleet that took off and navigated by dense fog and harsh climate circumstances. His convoy included three helicopters, and the opposite two had “reached their vacation spot safely,” in accordance with Tasnim information company.
The helicopter is but to be positioned however an Iranian official instructed Reuters that the lives of Raisi and Overseas Minister Amirabdollahian have been “in danger following the helicopter crash”.
“We’re nonetheless hopeful however data coming from the crash web site could be very regarding,” mentioned the official. There is no such thing as a information on Raisi’s situation.
Unhealthy climate was complicating rescue efforts, the state information company IRNA reported. Over 40 rescue groups utilizing search canines and drones have been despatched to the positioning, the information company mentioned.
The helicopter reportedly belonged to the Iranian Pink Crescent Society (IRCS), a non-government humanitarian group.
Footages from state media present the IRCS group and different rescue officers strolling up the mountain slope in dense fog to find the helicopter. The state TV additionally broadcast footage of individuals praying for Raisi in his residence metropolis.
Inside Minister Ahmad Vahidi mentioned one of many helicopters “made a tough touchdown as a result of unhealthy climate circumstances” and that it was “troublesome to ascertain communication” with the plane.
Leaders React To Chopper Crash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the incident and mentioned, “Deeply involved by reviews relating to President Raisi’s helicopter flight at this time. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian individuals on this hour of misery and pray for properly being of the President and his entourage.”
Deeply involved by reviews relating to President Raisi’s helicopter flight at this time. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian individuals on this hour of misery, and pray for properly being of the President and his entourage.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) Might 19, 2024
Neighbouring Azerbaijan’s President has provided to assist the rescue groups find the Iranian President’s chopper.
“Right this moment, after bidding a pleasant farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we have been profoundly troubled by the information of a helicopter carrying the highest delegation crash-landing in Iran,” Aliyev mentioned on social media. “The Republic of Azerbaijan stands prepared to supply any help wanted,” he added.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani “instructed the inside ministry, the Iraqi Pink Crescent and different related authorities to supply the Islamic Republic of Iran the obtainable sources to help within the seek for the Iranian president’s plane,” a authorities spokesperson mentioned.
“We’re carefully following reviews of a attainable exhausting touchdown of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and international minister,” a US State Division spokesperson mentioned in a press release.
A spokesperson for President Biden, Karine Jean-Pierre, instructed reporters that the President has been briefed on the state of affairs.
Ebrahim Raisi – A President Shut To Supreme Chief
Ebrahim Raisi got here to energy in 2021 after the Presidential elections and is near the Supreme Chief of Iran, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei. His time period witnessed one of many largest protests in Iran in a number of years because the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
In 2022, Mahsa Amini, an Iranian lady, died in police custody, sparking large civil unrest and a brutal crackdown by the federal government for a number of months.
He got here to energy after an election which noticed greater than half the voters staying away and several other in style candidates getting barred from contesting.
He succeeded Hassan Rouhani, whose largest achievement was a 2015 nuclear cope with world powers that gave Iran reduction from worldwide sanctions.
He has criticised the Rouhani regime after then-president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the USA from the nuclear pact in 2018 and reimposed punishing sanctions on Iran.
With Inputs from AFP, Reuters
