On this picture offered by MojNews on Might 19, 2024, rescuers collect earlier than heading in the direction of the location of the “accident” involving a helicopter within the convoy of Iran’s President within the Jolfa area of the western province of East Azerbaijan. (Picture by AZIN HAGHIGHI / MojNews / AFP)
Tehran, Iran — Iran was thrown into uncertainty Sunday as search and rescue groups scoured a fog-shrouded mountain space after President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter went lacking in what state media described as an “accident”.
Fears grew for the 63-year-old ultraconservative after contact was misplaced with the plane carrying him in addition to International Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others in East Azerbaijan province, experiences mentioned.
READ: Helicopter carrying Iran president in ‘accident’, search underway
The supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iranians to “not fear” in regards to the management of the Islamic republic, saying “there might be no disruption within the nation’s work”.
“We hope that Almighty God will convey our expensive president and his companions again in full well being into the arms of the nation,” he mentioned in a nationally televised tackle as Muslim trustworthy prayed for Raisi’s secure return.
Expressions of concern and affords to assist got here from overseas, together with Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey, in addition to from the European Union which activated its speedy response mapping service to assist within the search effort.
Iran’s international ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani expressed gratitude for “governments and worldwide organizations for his or her sympathy and supply of assist in the search and rescue operations.”
State tv first reported within the afternoon that “an accident occurred to the helicopter carrying the president” within the Jolfa area.
“The tough climate situations and heavy fog have made it tough for the rescue groups to succeed in the accident web site,” mentioned one broadcaster, as the large search effort later continued into the evening.
Iran’s Crimson Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand informed state TV the world of the accident “has but to be recognized” and that the scenario remained “tough”.
Inside Minister Ahmad Vahidi mentioned the helicopter “made a tough touchdown” in unhealthy climate and that it was “tough to ascertain communication” with the plane.
He urged individuals to get their info “solely from state tv”, and never hearken to international media channels Iran deems hostile to the Islamic republic.
Large search effort
Iran’s cupboard held an emergency assembly led by vice chairman Mohammad Mokhber after the incident, IRNA reported.
Raisi’s convoy had included three helicopters, and the opposite two had “reached their vacation spot safely”, mentioned the Tasnim information company.
Greater than 60 rescue groups utilizing search canine and drones had been despatched to the mountainous protected forest space of Dizmar close to the city of Varzaghan, the IRNA information company reported.
Military, Revolutionary Guard and law enforcement officials joined the search, authorities mentioned, as TV stations confirmed footage of Crimson Crescent groups strolling up a hill within the mist, and rows of ready emergency response autos.
Raisi had visited the northwestern province to inaugurate a dam undertaking along with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on their frequent border.
Aliyev mentioned in a publish on X that “we had been profoundly troubled by the information of a helicopter carrying the highest delegation crash-landing in Iran”.
“Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation,” he mentioned, additionally providing “any help wanted”.
International international locations had been intently following the search at a time of excessive regional tensions over the Gaza battle between Israel and Hamas since October 7 that has drawn in different armed teams within the Center East.
A US State Division spokesman mentioned: “We’re intently following experiences of a doable exhausting touchdown of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and international minister”, including that “we have now no additional remark at the moment”.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the crash, an American official mentioned on situation of anonymity.
Iranians pray for President Ebrahim Raisi and International Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Valiasr Sq. in central Tehran on Might 19, 2024. A helicopter within the convoy Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian was concerned in “an accident” in East Azerbaijan province in poor climate situations on Might 19, state tv reported. (Picture by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
‘Servant of the individuals’
Raisi has been president since 2021 when he succeeded the average Hassan Rouhani, at a time when the economic system was battered by US sanctions over Iran’s contested nuclear programme.
Iran noticed a wave of protests triggered by the demise in custody of Iranian-Kurdish girl Mahsa Amini in September 2022 after her arrest for allegedly flouting costume guidelines for ladies.
In March 2023, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a shock deal that restored diplomatic relations.
The Gaza battle despatched regional tensions hovering once more and a collection of tit-for-tat escalations led to Tehran launching tons of of missiles and rockets straight at Israel in April this 12 months.
In a speech following Sunday’s dam inauguration, Raisi emphasised Iran’s assist for Palestinians, a centrepiece of its international coverage because the 1979 Islamic revolution.
“We imagine that Palestine is the primary problem of the Muslim world, and we’re satisfied that the individuals of Iran and Azerbaijan all the time assist the individuals of Palestine and Gaza and hate the Zionist regime,” mentioned Raisi.
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Hamas, which america and European Union think about a terrorist group, mentioned that “on this painful incident, we categorical our full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its management, authorities and folks”.
