Ebrahim Raisi was elected Iranian president on the second try in 2021. (File)
Dubai:
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his international minister crashed on Sunday because it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, an Iranian official instructed Reuters, and rescuers had been struggling to succeed in the positioning of the incident.
The official mentioned the lives of Raisi and Overseas Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian had been “in danger following the helicopter crash”, which occurred on the best way again from a go to to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest.
“We’re nonetheless hopeful however info coming from the crash web site may be very regarding,” the official instructed Reuters, talking on situation of anonymity.
State TV quoted an official as saying that not less than one passenger and one crew member had been in touch with rescuers. It additionally mentioned the helicopter had been discovered, although Iran’s Crimson Crescent denied this report.
Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds final energy with a closing say on international coverage and Iran’s nuclear programme, sought to reassure Iranians, saying there can be no disruption to state affairs.
Iranian state media mentioned dangerous climate brought about the crash and was complicating rescue efforts. State information company IRNA mentioned Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
The chief of workers of Iran’s military ordered all of the assets of the military and the elite Revolutionary Guard to be put to make use of in search and rescue operations.
Earlier, the nationwide broadcaster had stopped all common programming to point out prayers being held for Raisi throughout the nation.
Within the early hours of Monday, it confirmed a rescue workforce, carrying brilliant jackets and head torches, huddled round a GPS gadget as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot amid a snowy blizzard.
“We’re completely looking out each inch of the final space of the crash,” state media quoted a regional military commander as saying. “The realm has very chilly, wet, and foggy climate situations. The rain is step by step turning into snow.”
Neighbouring nations expressed concern and supplied help in any rescue. The White Home mentioned US President Joe Biden had been briefed on reviews concerning the crash. Turkey mentioned it had assigned a drone, a helicopter, autos and a rescue workforce after a request by Iranian authorities. The European Union supplied emergency satellite tv for pc mapping know-how to assist Iran with the search.
HARDLINER, POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO KHAMENEI
The crash comes at a time of rising dissent inside Iran over an array of political, social and financial crises. Iran’s clerical rulers face worldwide strain over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme and its deepening navy ties with Russia through the struggle in Ukraine.
Since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, scary Israel’s assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned teams have erupted all through the Center East.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking workplace has ordered a tightening of morality legal guidelines, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed laborious in nuclear talks with world powers.
In Iran’s twin political system, break up between the clerical institution and the federal government, it’s Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme chief since 1989, who holds decision-making energy on all main insurance policies.
For years many have seen Raisi as a powerful contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi’s most important insurance policies.
Raisi’s victory in a intently managed election in 2021 introduced all branches of energy below the management of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with Washington.
Nevertheless, Raisi’s standing could have been dented by widespread protests in opposition to clerical rule and a failure to show round Iran’s economic system, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been on the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint undertaking. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who mentioned he had bid a “pleasant farewell” to Raisi earlier within the day, supplied help within the rescue.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
