In a dramatic turn of events, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash raises concerns
An Iranian official speaking to Reuters has expressed low expectations for the survival of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi following a helicopter crash. The search took 12 hours, with rescue teams finally reaching the crash site after it was identified by a Turkish drone carrying Raisi.
The Iranian Red Crescent dispatched 73 rescue teams with detector dogs to the area where signals were received from the crash site indicating a “hard landing”. According to Tasnim News Agency, a signal was received from the helicopter and a crew member’s mobile phone at the site.
The incident occurred near Jolfa, a city bordering Azerbaijan, during Raisi’s visit to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Iran’s military air fleet faces challenges due to international sanctions, and under Raisi’s leadership, Iran has taken controversial actions, including enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels and supporting proxy groups in the Middle East.
As the rescue mission continues amid challenging weather conditions, the situation remains tense, with concerns about the president’s well-being.