Iran’s President and Foreign Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash
Raisi came to Azerbaijan yesterday to inaugurate a large dam together with Azerbaijani President Aliyev
Dan Arkin
| 15/04/2024
Photo via Reuters
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other senior officials were killed in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran.
Rescue teams arrived at the crash site this morning (Monday), and Iranian state television and official news agencies confirmed that the president and the foreign minister had died.
Previously, there had been conflicting reports yesterday about the fate of President Raisi, whose helicopter crashed in difficult weather conditions, in a forested area with heavy fog. Early this morning, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that rescue teams had reached the crash site and the helicopter carrying President Raisi and the Iranian Foreign Minister.
Sources in the Iranian military, which dispatched large rescue and recovery units to the area, reported that as of midnight last night, the exact location of the presidential helicopter crash had not yet been determined. Several helicopters from the Iranian Air Force base in Tabriz were dispatched to the area, but the first rescue attempt failed due to weather conditions.
"President Raisi's life is in danger after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous and forested area, with bad weather, heavy fog, and rain. The information coming from there is worrying," an Iranian senior government official was quoted by Yahoo News.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that the numerous rescue teams arriving in the area were having difficulty reaching the helicopter and might have to wait until morning.
President Ebrahim Raisi (63) came to Azerbaijan yesterday to inaugurate a large dam together with Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The dam was jointly built by the two countries in the border region between them.
The Iranian president arrived in a formation of three helicopters, one of which carried the president, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the regional governor, and the Ayatollah of the city of Tabriz.
The helicopter carrying the president landed in Varzaghan in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. Weather conditions were poor, with fog, low visibility, and a forested area. Dozens of rescue and recovery teams were sent to the area, including units of the Red Crescent and the Iranian army.
Iranian news agencies reported that the other two helicopters in the formation landed safely. Media across Iran called on citizens to pray for President Raisi's safety.
The helicopter that carried the president yesterday was likely a BELL-412. The Iranian Air Force operates several types of helicopters, but they are all old. Due to the sanctions imposed on Iran, it is difficult for them to obtain spare parts, and most of the aircraft are from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Raisi, 63, was known to be close to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and is a leading candidate to succeed him in the future. Before being elected president, he was responsible for Iran's judiciary and is considered responsible for the execution of thousands of regime opponents.
Raisi came to Azerbaijan yesterday to inaugurate a large dam together with Azerbaijani President Aliyev
Photo via Reuters
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other senior officials were killed in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran.
Rescue teams arrived at the crash site this morning (Monday), and Iranian state television and official news agencies confirmed that the president and the foreign minister had died.
Previously, there had been conflicting reports yesterday about the fate of President Raisi, whose helicopter crashed in difficult weather conditions, in a forested area with heavy fog. Early this morning, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that rescue teams had reached the crash site and the helicopter carrying President Raisi and the Iranian Foreign Minister.
Sources in the Iranian military, which dispatched large rescue and recovery units to the area, reported that as of midnight last night, the exact location of the presidential helicopter crash had not yet been determined. Several helicopters from the Iranian Air Force base in Tabriz were dispatched to the area, but the first rescue attempt failed due to weather conditions.
"President Raisi's life is in danger after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous and forested area, with bad weather, heavy fog, and rain. The information coming from there is worrying," an Iranian senior government official was quoted by Yahoo News.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that the numerous rescue teams arriving in the area were having difficulty reaching the helicopter and might have to wait until morning.
President Ebrahim Raisi (63) came to Azerbaijan yesterday to inaugurate a large dam together with Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The dam was jointly built by the two countries in the border region between them.
The Iranian president arrived in a formation of three helicopters, one of which carried the president, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the regional governor, and the Ayatollah of the city of Tabriz.
The helicopter carrying the president landed in Varzaghan in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. Weather conditions were poor, with fog, low visibility, and a forested area. Dozens of rescue and recovery teams were sent to the area, including units of the Red Crescent and the Iranian army.
Iranian news agencies reported that the other two helicopters in the formation landed safely. Media across Iran called on citizens to pray for President Raisi's safety.
The helicopter that carried the president yesterday was likely a BELL-412. The Iranian Air Force operates several types of helicopters, but they are all old. Due to the sanctions imposed on Iran, it is difficult for them to obtain spare parts, and most of the aircraft are from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Raisi, 63, was known to be close to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and is a leading candidate to succeed him in the future. Before being elected president, he was responsible for Iran's judiciary and is considered responsible for the execution of thousands of regime opponents.
