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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a dramatic development, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, along with two other top Iranian officials are missing after a helicopter they were traveling in crashed in the mountainous region of northwestern Iran, according to an Associated Press report on Sunday. This incident has drawn significant attention both within Iran and internationally, given the high-profile nature of the passengers involved. The helicopter was navigating through Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a region known for its challenging terrain and variable weather conditions.
The helicopter crash occurred as President Raisi was returning from an inauguration ceremony for a dam built jointly by Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River. Alongside Raisi and Abdollahian, the helicopter was carrying several other officials, including Malek Rahmati, the regional governor of East Azerbaijan province, and Mohammed Ali Al Hashemi, an Imam in Tabriz Province, according to published reports.
People in Iran are setting off fireworks after hearing that the helicopter of the President of the Islamic Regime in Iran has crashed pic.twitter.com/1LxgDMAzR0
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 19, 2024
State television initially reported the crash as a “hard landing” near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran, as per the AP report. Later reports suggested the incident occurred further east, near the village of Uzi, though specifics remain unclear due to conflicting information.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi attributed the crash to “bad weather,” noting that heavy fog and poor visibility were complicating search and rescue operations. “The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters, and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog,” Vahidi explained on state television, as was reported by the AP, He highlighted the rugged and inaccessible nature of the crash site, which is hampering efforts to establish contact and conduct rescue operations.
“Various rescue teams are on their way to the region but because of the poor weather and fogginess it might take time for them to reach the helicopter,” Vahidi added. He emphasized that the challenging topography of the region is a significant obstacle, making it difficult to receive timely updates and accurate information from the ground.
🚨| ÚLTIMA HORA: Han pasado más de 3 horas desde que se estrelló el helicóptero que transportaba al presidente de Irán y algunos ciudadanos han comenzado a lanzar fuegos artificiales para celebrar la esperanza de que su presidente haya muerto. 🇮🇷 Caen los enemigos de a Israel 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0kD3CF4t6p
— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) May 19, 2024
The disappearance of Iran’s president and foreign minister in such precarious circumstances has sent shockwaves through the country. Internationally, the incident is being closely monitored, given the potential political ramifications. Iran’s leadership is pivotal in regional geopolitics, and any disruption to its government could have wide-ranging impacts on international relations, particularly in the Middle East.
Hamid Monjem, chief of the local Red Crescent Society, reported that the Iranian military has been deployed for the search and rescue operation, as was indicated in the AP report. However, progress has been significantly impeded by difficult weather conditions, including heavy fog and poor visibility. “Armed forces also came to the rescue and there are three drone units in the area, but they cannot operate due to weather conditions,” Monjem said.
In response to the crash, Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian military, has ordered the mobilization of the armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to join the search effort. Reports said that Bagheri stated, “The armed forces, the army, the IRGC and police command were all present in the area from the initial hours.” Despite these efforts, the challenging terrain and adverse weather continue to obstruct the search operations.
Emergency services spokesman Babak Yektaparast added that a rescue helicopter attempted to reach the suspected crash site but was unable to land due to heavy mist. The AP report added that in response, Turkey has deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle and is preparing to send a helicopter equipped with night vision capabilities to assist in the search-and-rescue mission.
BREAKING: RAIN TURNS TO SNOW AT CRASH SITE OF IRANIAN PRESIDENT
Commander in the region where the helicopter carrying Iran’s president crashed reports that the “rain is turning into snow.”
“In addition to sending provincial units and Sabrin Special Brigade for search… pic.twitter.com/JlUPTVhw1A
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) May 19, 2024
The uncertainty surrounding President Raisi’s condition has led to significant public and political reactions. Neither IRNA nor state television has provided updates on Raisi’s condition, prompting hard-liners to urge the public to pray for his safety. The AP noted that state television aired continuous images of hundreds of faithful praying at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites, as well as in Qom and other locations across the country.
The crash comes at a particularly tense time for Iran. Under President Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran recently launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel and has been enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels, the AP report said. These actions have heightened international scrutiny and increased regional tensions, making the current situation even more critical.
Amid this turmoil, Iran has seen a surge in executions. i24News.com reported that on Saturday, at least seven people, including two women, were hanged, bringing the total number of executions this year to at least 223, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR). This recent escalation follows the end of the Persian New Year and Ramadan holidays, with 115 executions, including six women, since April. Iran ranks second only to China in the overall number of executions and leads globally in recorded executions of women.
