Iranian President Feared Dead in Devastating Helicopter Crash
News Desk
Islamabad: Hopes are fading for the survival of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister after a helicopter crash in mountainous and icy conditions.
An Iranian official reported on Monday that search teams had located the wreckage.
“The helicopter carrying President Raisi was completely incinerated in the crash,” the official told Reuters.
“Regrettably, it is feared that all passengers have perished.” Rescue teams battled blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the crash site in East Azerbaijan province by early Monday.
Pirhossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Red Crescent, informed state television, “We have visual confirmation of the wreckage, and the situation appears dire.” He added, “With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers.”
President Raisi, 63, took office in 2021. Since then, he has enforced strict morality laws, led a severe crackdown on anti-government protests, and vigorously pursued nuclear negotiations with world powers.
Earlier, the Anadolu news agency reported on X that a Turkish drone had identified a heat source, suspected to be the helicopter’s wreckage, and provided the coordinates to Iranian authorities.
According to state news agency IRNA, Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate authority over foreign policy and the nuclear program, reassured the public that state affairs would not be disrupted.
The chief of staff of Iran’s army directed all resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guards towards search and rescue operations.
Earlier, the national broadcaster interrupted regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
In the early hours of Monday, it broadcasted footage of a rescue team in bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a dark mountainside on foot amidst a blizzard.
A regional army commander told state media, “We are thoroughly searching every inch of the general area of the crash. The area is experiencing very cold, rainy, and foggy weather conditions, with the rain gradually turning into snow.”
Several countries expressed concern and offered assistance with the rescue efforts. The White House confirmed that US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the crash, China expressed deep concern, and the European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
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