Tehran: In a concerning turn of events, a helicopter ferrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi encountered a severe accident due to heavy fog in the East Azerbaijan region on Sunday. The incident, which has left the president uncontacted, was reported by local media outlets, raising alarms about his safety.
The helicopter was part of a convoy that included three aircraft, with the other two safely reaching their intended destinations. These helicopters were transporting various ministers and officials. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also aboard the helicopter with President Raisi when it performed a ‘hard landing’ under adverse conditions.
President Raisi was on a journey within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province when the mishap occurred. According to state television reports, the accident took place near Julfa city, which lies close to the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Earlier on Sunday, President Raisi had been in Azerbaijan to jointly inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. This infrastructure project marks the third collaborative dam construction on the Aras River by the two nations. Following the inauguration, President Raisi was en route to the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan.
At 63, President Raisi is known for his hardline stance and has previously served as the head of Iran’s judiciary. He is considered a close associate of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speculations by some analysts suggest that President Raisi could be a potential successor to the 85-year-old supreme leader, should the need arise. President Raisi secured his position as Iran’s president in the 2021 elections.
The search for President Raisi is ongoing, with rescue teams dispatched to the area. The dense fog is complicating the search efforts, making it challenging for the rescue crews to locate the downed aircraft in the remote, mountainous region of East Azerbaijan. The nation holds its breath as it awaits further updates on the well-being of its president and the other officials involved in the accident.
