UPDATE:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Rescuers on Monday found a helicopter that was carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials that had apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran the day before, though "no sign of life" was detected, state media reported..
A helicopter carrying Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has reportedly crashed in a foggy and mountainous region near the city of Jolfa, on the border with Azerbaijan. The incident occurred on May 19, 2024, as the President and his delegation were returning from a visit to the border, where they had inaugurated a dam on the Aras river with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
The helicopter, part of a larger convoy, suffered a "hard landing" due to the foggy and mountainous conditions in the area. The crash has left President Raisi's condition unknown, with rescue teams and drones deployed to search for the site of the crash. However, heavy fog and bad weather have hampered the efforts of the rescue teams to reach the accident site in the mountains.
The crash site is believed to be near the village of Uzi in the forests of Arsbaran. Despite the deployment of at least 40 rescue teams, including drones and search dogs, the weather conditions have made it difficult for them to reach the site. The area is known for its mountainous and forested conditions, and the fog has reduced visibility to only about five meters.
The Iranian government has yet to confirm the exact details of the crash or the condition of President Raisi and his delegation, which included Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, and other high-ranking officials. The news of the crash has prompted a wave of concern both within Iran and internationally, with many calling for prayers for the President and his entourage.
This incident comes at a time when Iran is facing a number of challenges, both domestically and internationally. The crash of the helicopter carrying President Raisi adds another layer of uncertainty to the already complex political landscape in the region. As the search and rescue operations continue, the world waits anxiously for news about the fate of Iran's hard-line President and his delegation.
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