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Iran launched a large-scale search and rescue effort to scour a fog-shrouded mountain space after President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter went lacking Sunday in what state media described as an “accident”.
Fears grew for the 63-year-old ultraconservative after contact was misplaced with the helicopter carrying him in addition to Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others in East Azerbaijan province, stories stated.
The supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iranians to “not fear” in regards to the management of the Islamic republic, saying “there shall be no disruption within the nation’s work”.
“We hope that Almighty God will carry our pricey president and his companions again in full well being into the arms of the nation,” he stated in on state TV.
Expressions of concern and affords to assist got here from overseas, together with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and Turkey, in addition to from the European Union which stated it activated its speedy response mapping service to help within the search effort.
State tv reported that “an accident occurred to the helicopter carrying the president” within the Jolfa area of the western province, whereas some officers described it as a “arduous touchdown”.
“The cruel climate circumstances and heavy fog have made it troublesome for the rescue groups to achieve the accident website,” stated one broadcaster.
Greater than 40 rescue groups utilizing search canine and drones have been despatched to the location, reported the IRNA information company as TV stations confirmed photos of rows of ready emergency response autos.
Raisi was visiting the province the place he inaugurated a dam challenge along with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the 2 international locations.
Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters, and the opposite two had “reached their vacation spot safely,” in accordance with Tasnim information company.
Overseas international locations have been carefully following the search effort 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 stated: “We’re carefully following stories of a doable arduous touchdown of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and overseas minister.
“Now we have no additional remark at the moment.”
An Iranian Pink Crescent workforce was seen strolling up a slope in thick fog and drizzling rain, whereas different dwell footage confirmed worshippers reciting prayers within the holy metropolis of Mashhad, Raisi’s hometown.
Thick fog and drizzle
In neighbouring Iraq, Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani “instructed the inside ministry and the Iraqi Pink Crescent and different related authorities to supply accessible assets… to help within the search”.
Azeri President Aliyev stated in a put up on X that “we have 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 stated, noting that his nation “stands prepared to supply any help wanted”.
The accident occurred within the mountainous protected forest space of Dizmar close to the city of Varzaghan, stated the official IRNA information company.
Navy personnel together with the Revolutionary Guards and police had additionally deployed groups to the realm, stated military chief-of-staff Mohammad Bagheri.
Inside Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated one of many helicopters “made a tough touchdown attributable to unhealthy climate circumstances” and that it was “troublesome to determine communication” with the plane.
Years of disaster
Raisi has been president since 2021 when he succeeded the average Hassan Rouhani, for a time period throughout which Iran has confronted disaster and battle.
He took the reins of a rustic within the grip of a deep social disaster and an financial system strained by US sanctions towards Tehran over its contested nuclear programme.
Iran noticed a wave of mass 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 girls.
In March 2023, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a shock deal that restored diplomatic relations.
The battle in Gaza that broke out on October 7 despatched regional tensions hovering once more and a sequence of tit-for-tat escalations led to Tehran launching lots of of missiles and rockets straight at Israel in April 2024.
In a speech following Sunday’s dam inauguration, Raisi emphasised Iran’s assist for Palestinians, a centrepiece of its overseas coverage because the 1979 Islamic revolution.
“We consider that Palestine is the primary difficulty of the Muslim world, and we’re satisfied that the individuals of Iran and Azerbaijan at all times assist the individuals of Palestine and Gaza and hate the Zionist regime,” stated Raisi.
Raisi, born in 1960 in northeast Iran’s holy metropolis of Mashhad, served as Tehran’s prosecutor-general from 1989 to 1994, deputy chief of the Judicial Authority for a decade from 2004, after which nationwide prosecutor-general in 2014.
His black turban signifies direct descent from the Prophet Mohammed, and state media has referred to him by the senior title of ayatollah within the Shiite clerical hierarchy.
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