– We’re optimistic, however the data coming from the accident web site is worrying, an Iranian official advised the Reuters information company late on Sunday afternoon.
It was slightly earlier than 3pm that state Iranian TV reported {that a} helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi had suffered a “onerous touchdown” within the west of the nation.
Iran’s Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and different high-ranking officers had been additionally on board.
A rescue operation has been launched, and the chief of employees for the army, Mohammad Bagheri, has ordered all out there army personnel to contribute.
Conflicting studies of findings
In accordance with Iranian media, there may be heavy rain, fog and wind within the space, which makes it tough for the emergency providers to go looking. Massive rescue forces from the Purple Crescent, the army and the police are collaborating within the search. Drones have additionally been used.
At 6 p.m., Iranian state tv introduced that rescue crews had been quickly on the scene of the accident. At 20:00, an Iranian official stated there had been repeated contact with two passengers on board the helicopter of Iran’s president.
The identities of the 2 weren’t disclosed, neither is it recognized whether or not they had been injured.
Not lengthy after, a number of state Iranian media reported, based on Reuters, that rescue groups had discovered the helicopter. Shortly afterwards, nonetheless, the Purple Crescent and the state information company Irna denied that the helicopter had been discovered.
At 21:00, the commander of the military in East Azerbaijan informs Irna {that a} sign has been acquired from the helicopter and the cell phone of one of many passengers.
“Not accessible and lined by forest”
The accident reportedly occurred close to the city of Jolfa, close to the border with Azerbaijan, within the mountainous Iranian province of East Azerbaijan. The state-run Iranian information company Irna describes the accident web site as “hardly accessible and lined by forest”.
Iranian TV has suspended its scheduled broadcasts and is displaying photographs of individuals praying for the president in a number of locations within the nation.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urges Iranians “to not fear” concerning the nation.
– The Iranian individuals mustn’t fear, there will probably be no disruption within the nation’s work, Khamenei stated in a speech on state tv.
– We hope that the almighty God will deliver our pricey president and his companions again unhurt within the arms of the nation, he continued.
Had inaugurated dam
Initially, it was reported that one of many helicopters within the entourage carrying the president had been concerned in an accident. There should have been three helicopters within the entourage.
In accordance with Iranian media, the helicopter needed to go in for touchdown attributable to tough flight situations. It has not been attainable to substantiate whether or not anybody was killed or injured within the accident.
Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday morning to inaugurate a dam along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
– I’m deeply shocked by the information that the helicopter carrying Iran’s president has crashed. Our ideas and prayers are with Raisi and his entourage. Azerbaijan is able to assist, says a press release from Aliyev on Sunday night.
The White Home says in a press release that it’s following the state of affairs intently, and that US President Joe Biden is being saved updated. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan additionally says he’s following the state of affairs intently. Iraq has ordered a number of of the nation’s establishments to contribute to the search operation.
Potential Khamenei successor
63-year-old Raisi is conservative and beforehand led the nation’s judiciary. He’s seen as a protégé of Khamenei, and a few specialists have advised that Raisi might exchange the 85-year-old after his demise or resignation.
Raisi gained the 2021 presidential election, an election that noticed the bottom turnout within the Islamic Republic’s 45-year historical past.
The 63-year-old is sanctioned by the USA partly due to his position within the mass execution of 1000’s of political prisoners through the Iran-Iraq battle within the late Eighties.
#Irans #president #lacking #helicopter #crash #conflicting #studies #discovering
2024-05-21 03:17:55