By Agencies and published by CNA
Dubai – A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday (May 19) as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, an Iranian official told Reuters, and rescuers were struggling to reach the site of the incident.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”, which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest.
“We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
State TV quoted an official as saying at least one passenger and one crew member had been in contact with rescuers. It also said the helicopter had been found, though Iran’s Red Crescent denied this report.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.
Iranian state media said bad weather caused the crash and was complicating rescue efforts. State news agency IRNA said Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
The chief of staff of Iran’s army ordered all resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guards to be put to use in search and rescue operations.
Earlier, the national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
In the early hours of Monday, it showed a rescue team, wearing bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot amid a snowy blizzard.
“We are thoroughly searching every inch of the general area of the crash,” state media quoted a regional army commander as saying. “The area has very cold, rainy, and foggy weather conditions. The rain is gradually turning into snow.”
Neighbouring countries expressed concern and offered assistance in any rescue.
The White House said US President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. Turkey said it had assigned a drone, a helicopter, vehicles and a rescue team after a request by Iranian authorities. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
Hardliner seen as possible successor to Khamenei
The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises.
Iran’s clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023, provoking Israel’s assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
In Iran’s dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who has the final say on all major policies.
For years, many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi’s main policies.
Raisi’s victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal had been negotiated with Washington.
However, Raisi’s standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran’s economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a “friendly farewell” to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Rescue operations continue following the crash of the helicopter carrying Iran’s President in mountainous Varzaghan, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, on May 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Azin Haghighi and published by CNA
Insert: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi places his hands on his heart as a gesture of respect to the crowd during the funeral ceremony of the victims of a bomb explosion in the city of Kerman about 820kms (510 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 5, 2024. File photo:AP/Vahid Salemi and published by Yahoo!News
Front Page: People follow the news of a crash of a helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, on a TV in a shop in Tehran, Iran, on May 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Majid Asgaripour and published by CNA
Also read: Ethnic armed group says it has captured a town in western Myanmar
Two more Thai hostages dead in Gaza
China and Cambodia begin 15-day military exercises as questions grow about Beijing’s influence
Pita: Activist’s death an opportunity to put out political fire
Envoys of world democracies express condolences for Netiporn’s death
Court decision on PM impeachment bid expected on Thursday
‘Mother of the Bride’ joins list of hit films made in Thailand
