Iranian president Raisi’s helicopter crashes; Khamenei prays, assures no disruption in country’s affairs

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed on Sunday (May 19) when it was crossing a mountainous terrain, an Iranian official told the news agency Reuters.

Reports emerged that the helicopter was found by search teams, butRed Crescent refuted them stating that it has not been found yet.

An unnamed Iranian official also told state TV that contact has been made with one passenger and one crew member who were on the helicopter.

Iranian officials have spoken to two people on the same helicopter as President Raisi since it crashed, Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri told the country's semi-official FARS news agency.

Mansouri said that because officials made contact "several times" with a passenger and member of the flight crew shortly after the crash, "It appears that the incident was not severe".

Three helicopters were flying on the same route before two of them lost contact with Raisi's helicopter, Mansouri said.

"The Ministry of Communications and other security agencies have identified the incident area within a 2-kilometre radius. Due to weather conditions, access to the area is challenging," he said.

Khamenei prays for Raisi's return

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, said, "We hope that God the almighty returns the dear president and his colleagues in full health to the arms of the nation. (Audience saying Amen!)"

"(People) must be assured that there will be no disturbances in the country's affairs," he added.

We hope Almighty God will return the respected, esteemed President and his entourage to the arms of the nation. — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 19, 2024

Eveyone should pray for the health of these people who are serving the Iranian nation. The nation doesn't need to be worried or anxious as the administration of the country will not be disrupted at all. — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 19, 2024

Earlier, one official said the lives of Raisi and the foreign minister were "at risk following the helicopter crash". "We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning," said the official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Raisi wasreportedly returning from the Khoda Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan after inaugurating a dam at the common border with the Republic of Azerbaijan, reported Tasnim news agency, but the state media didn't share details of what exactly happened to the helicopter.

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‼️🇮🇷Breaking | The video before the helicopter crash has come out..!!#Iran
pic.twitter.com/Q3AIhNJP9s — Javeria Sultan (@javeria_sultan1) May 19, 2024

According to state TV, the area where the incident happened was near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan, which is around 600 kilometres northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The helicopter crashed close to a copper mine called Sungun, which is located between Jofa and Varzaqan in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran.

The region is between 70 kilometres and 100 kilometres away from the city of Tabriz, the city where the president and FM were reportedly headed.

Search operation on,40 rapid response teamsin action

As per Tasnim News Agency, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pir Hossein Kolivand stated that 40 rapid response teams from the IRCS are currently conducting search operations in the location amid extremely unfavourable weather conditions.

"We are making every effort to carry out the necessary actions" despite the fact that the terrain is difficult to navigate.

"We have utilised drones and aerial measures, but due to the poor weather conditions, aerial search operations are not feasible. The area is rugged and mountainous," the IRCS Chief said.

"We have also dispatched forces from specific provinces to ensure that more personnel are on-site," he added.

The Iranian army's chief of staff also ordered the utilisation of all army and Iranian guard resources in the search efforts.

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'Pray for Raisi'

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency urged the Iranians to pray for Raisi. Video released by state TV showed worshippers praying for the president’s health in the city of Mashhad.

Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, released a statement after the crash, "Today, after a friendly meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, the news of the emergency landing of the helicopter carrying the Iranian high delegation caused great concern."

"Our prayers to Almighty God are with President Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend and brother country, the Republic of Azerbaijan is ready to provide all kinds of support," he added.

Apart from Raisi and the FM, Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Al-Hashem, Tabriz's Friday Prayer Imam was reportedly on the helicopter with the president.

Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River.

(With inputs from agencies)