A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and several officials crashed in the mountainous northwest region of Iran, prompting a massive rescue operation on Sunday. The incident occurred as Iran recently launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel and has been enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels. The crash took place in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province near Jolfa, a city close to the border with Azerbaijan. Details about the crash remained contradictory, with some reports describing it as a “hard landing” or an “incident.”
Among those on board with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and the governor of East Azerbaijan province. The exact condition of Raisi and other passengers was not immediately clear as hard-liners in Iran urged the public to pray for their safety. State TV aired footage of people praying at various religious sites across the country. The rescue operation faced challenges due to poor weather conditions and fog in the forested mountainous region where the helicopter crashed.
Efforts to locate the crash site were hindered by heavy mist, preventing a rescue helicopter from landing in the area. As night fell, Iranian government officials acknowledged the difficult conditions of the search operation. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei joined in urging the public to pray for the safe return of the president and his companions. Raisi, a hard-liner and former judiciary leader, is considered a protege of Khamenei and a potential successor to the 85-year-old leader.
Raisi had been on the border with Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam with President Ilham Aliyev despite strained relations between the two countries. Iran faces challenges in maintaining its military air fleet due to international sanctions, leading to difficulties in obtaining parts for its helicopters. Raisi, who won the 2021 presidential election amidst low turnout, is sanctioned by the U.S. for his role in mass executions in 1988. Under his leadership, Iran has escalated tensions through uranium enrichment, arms support in various conflicts, and recent drone-and-missile attacks.
The crash comes amid ongoing protests in Iran, fueled by issues such as the death of a woman detained for not wearing a hijab and the subsequent security crackdown that led to numerous deaths and detentions. The United Nations has held Iran responsible for the violence that resulted in the woman’s death. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, but U.S. officials have not received additional information beyond what has been reported by Iranian state media. The situation remains sensitive for Iran, especially given the country’s geopolitical tensions and internal challenges.
