Iran President Ebrahim Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters
Tehran:
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 stated.
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 pricey president and his companions again in full well being into the arms of the nation,” he stated in a nationally televised tackle as Muslim devoted prayed for Raisi’s protected return.
READ | “Deeply Involved”: PM Modi On Experiences Of Iran President’s Helicopter Crash
Expressions of concern and gives 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.
State tv first reported within the afternoon that “an accident occurred to the helicopter carrying the president” within the Jolfa area.
“The cruel climate situations and heavy fog have made it tough for the rescue groups to succeed in the accident web site,” stated one broadcaster, as the huge search effort later continued into the night time.
Inside Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated the helicopter “made a tough touchdown” in unhealthy climate and that it was “tough to ascertain communication” with the plane.
He urged folks to get their data “solely from state tv”, and never hearken to overseas media channels Iran deems hostile to the Islamic republic.
Huge search effort
Raisi’s convoy had included three helicopters, and the opposite two had “reached their vacation spot safely”, stated the Tasnim information company.
Greater than 60 rescue groups utilizing search canines 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 cops joined the search, authorities stated, as TV stations confirmed footage of Crimson Crescent groups strolling up a hill within the mist, and rows of ready emergency response autos.
READ | Defined: What Occurs If An Iranian President Dies In Workplace
Raisi had visited the northwestern province to inaugurate a dam undertaking along with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on their widespread border.
Aliyev stated in a submit 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 stated, additionally providing “any help wanted”.
International nations had been intently following the search at a time of excessive regional tensions over the Gaza struggle 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 intently following experiences of a doable onerous touchdown of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and overseas minister”, including that “we’ve no additional remark presently”.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the crash, an American official stated on situation of anonymity.
‘Servant of the folks’
Raisi has been president since 2021 when he succeeded the average Hassan Rouhani, at a time when the financial 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 lady Mahsa Amini in September 2022 after her arrest for allegedly flouting gown guidelines for girls.
In March 2023, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a shock deal that restored diplomatic relations.
The Gaza struggle 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 this 12 months.
In a speech following Sunday’s dam inauguration, Raisi emphasised Iran’s help for Palestinians, a centrepiece of its overseas coverage because the 1979 Islamic revolution.
“We imagine that Palestine is the primary situation of the Muslim world, and we’re satisfied that the folks of Iran and Azerbaijan at all times help the folks of Palestine and Gaza and hate the Zionist regime,” stated Raisi.
Hamas, which america and European Union think about a terrorist group, stated that “on this painful incident, we specific our full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its management, authorities and folks”.
One 37-year-old Tehran citizen, who gave his identify solely as Hadi, referred to as Raisi “one of many servants of the folks”, and stated “we hope that he and his companions are present in good well being”.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
Ready for response to load…
