Iranian state media have reported that a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is currently missing after seemingly crashing in the mountains of Iran's East Azerbaijan province..The status of those on board the helicopter remains unknown as rescue efforts continue to be hampered by low visibility and rough terrain..The Incident.Iranian state media initially reported that the helicopter suffered a "hard landing" while making a return flight from the border with Azerbaijan, where Raisi met with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev for bilateral talks and the inauguration ceremony of a hydroelectric dam along the Araz River..At the time, Mehr News Agency claimed that Raisi was located unharmed and was traveling to the city of Tabriz in a land convoy, however, this was retracted after the Iranian Interior Minister reported that rescue crews were unable to locate or make contact with the crash site..The Search.Several hours into the search, the crash site has yet to be located as heavy fog continues to be an issue impacting search and rescue operations by limiting visibility for both air and ground crews. Rescue helicopters were also grounded due to the weather conditions..Night time and dropping temperatures are quickly approaching, which will further hamper rescue efforts and pose a danger to survivors of the crash, if any..Responses.Several state media outlets have begun broadcasting prayers or asking Iranians to pray for Raisi's health..Meanwhile, Tehran Times has reported that an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council has been held with Ayatollah Khamenei.
Iranian state media have reported that a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is currently missing after seemingly crashing in the mountains of Iran's East Azerbaijan province..The status of those on board the helicopter remains unknown as rescue efforts continue to be hampered by low visibility and rough terrain..The Incident.Iranian state media initially reported that the helicopter suffered a "hard landing" while making a return flight from the border with Azerbaijan, where Raisi met with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev for bilateral talks and the inauguration ceremony of a hydroelectric dam along the Araz River..At the time, Mehr News Agency claimed that Raisi was located unharmed and was traveling to the city of Tabriz in a land convoy, however, this was retracted after the Iranian Interior Minister reported that rescue crews were unable to locate or make contact with the crash site..The Search.Several hours into the search, the crash site has yet to be located as heavy fog continues to be an issue impacting search and rescue operations by limiting visibility for both air and ground crews. Rescue helicopters were also grounded due to the weather conditions..Night time and dropping temperatures are quickly approaching, which will further hamper rescue efforts and pose a danger to survivors of the crash, if any..Responses.Several state media outlets have begun broadcasting prayers or asking Iranians to pray for Raisi's health..Meanwhile, Tehran Times has reported that an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council has been held with Ayatollah Khamenei.
