A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an accident on Sunday in the East Azerbaijan province, but two members of his entourage have made contact with rescue teams, indicating the incident may not have been severe.
According to Deputy President Mohsen Mansouri, the helicopter was part of a convoy heading to Tabriz after Raisi and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a dam project on the border between the two countries. The helicopter lost contact with the other two copters in the convoy about 30 minutes into the flight, prompting a search and rescue operation.
Mansouri stated that the location of the accident has been determined, and rescue teams have been deployed to the site. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has expressed hope for Raisi’s safe return and urged the nation to remain calm, assuring that the incident will not disrupt the country’s operations.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with over 40 teams, including search dogs and drones, involved in the search. The accident occurred in a mountainous area near the town of Varzaghan, and military personnel, Revolutionary Guards, and police have been deployed to assist in the search.
Regional countries, including Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, have offered assistance and expressed concern over the incident. The US State Department is also monitoring the situation.
Raisi, who has been president since 2021, has faced numerous challenges, including mass protests, regional tensions, and economic sanctions. Despite the incident, Iran’s Cabinet held an emergency session, and the Supreme Leader prayed for Raisi’s return.
The incident has raised concerns about the president’s safety and the stability of the region, but the fact that two members of his entourage have made contact with rescue teams suggests the situation may not be as severe as initially feared.
