The crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter on Sunday night in a mountainous area has sparked widespread fears regarding his safety. Reports indicate that the lives of President Raisi and his Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, were in danger. This incident has triggered a significant search and rescue operation.
Iran’s Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, attributed the crash to adverse weather conditions. This incident occurred just a month after Iran’s missile and drone strike on Israel, adding to the tension surrounding the event. State media quickly labelled the crash as accidental.
In response to the crash, the Iranian military’s chief of staff mobilized the entire army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for a comprehensive rescue mission. Over 65 search and rescue teams, including medical units and drones, were dispatched to Jolfa, near the Azerbaijani border, approximately 375 miles northwest of Tehran. However, thick fog and rugged terrain significantly hindered the rescue efforts, forcing helicopter searches to halt at nightfall.
Iran was plunged into uncertainty as search and rescue teams scoured the fog-shrouded mountain area where President Raisi’s helicopter went missing. Reports indicated that contact was lost with the aircraft carrying the 63-year-old ultraconservative leader, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, and others in East Azerbaijan province.
In a nationally televised address, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iranians not to worry about the country’s leadership, stating, “There will be no disruption in the country’s work.” He expressed hope that “Almighty God will bring our dear president and his companions back in full health into the arms of the nation,” as Muslim faithful across the country prayed for Raisi’s safe return.
Expressions of concern and offers to help came from abroad, including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union, which activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in the search effort. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, expressed gratitude to “governments and international organizations for their sympathy and offer of help in the search and rescue operations.”
State television first reported in the afternoon that “an accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in the Jolfa region. Broadcasters highlighted that harsh weather conditions and heavy fog made it challenging for rescue teams to reach the accident site as the massive search effort continued into the night.
Iran’s Red Crescent chief, Pir Hossein Koolivand, told state TV that the exact location of the accident “has yet to be identified” and described the situation as “difficult.” Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed that the helicopter “made a hard landing” in bad weather and acknowledged the difficulties in establishing communication with the aircraft. He urged the public to obtain their information “only from state television” and not to rely on foreign media channels, which Iran deems hostile to the Islamic Republic.
Following the incident, Iran’s cabinet held an emergency meeting led by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, according to IRNA, Iran’s state news agency. Reports indicated that Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters, with the other two having “reached their destination safely,” as the Tasnim news agency reported.
Over 60 rescue teams, equipped with search dogs and drones, were sent to the mountainous protected forest area of Dizmar near Varzaghan. The IRNA news agency provided continuous updates on the search and rescue operations, highlighting the efforts to locate the president and his team despite the challenging conditions.
The crash of President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter has prompted a significant rescue operation amid fears for his safety. The Iranian government has mobilized extensive resources and received international support in the search efforts. As the situation remains tense, the nation waits anxiously for news about the president and his companions, hoping for their safe return.
