NOURNEWS: Following an incident involving a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, all forces, including the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guard Corps, army, police, Red Crescent Society, and villagers, have been mobilized and are searching for the helicopter, said Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
He noted that because of extremely steep and dense forest coverage, as well as rainfall, visibility is very limited, making it difficult for the forces to reach the site.
“However, they are still at the place, and we hope, with people’s prayers, they will reach the site as soon as possible.”
40 high-speed reaction team members at the site of President’s helicopter "hard landing"
Factors determining aspects of loss in the hard landing of the helicopter carrying the president include the height of the landing, the condition of helicopter parts such as propellers, and potential fire.
Forty high-speed reaction rescue team members are at the site of President Raisi’s helicopter landing. However, the unstable climate has made rescue work challenging.
Factors determining aspects of loss in the hard landing of the helicopter carrying the president include the height of the landing, the condition of helicopter parts such as propellers, and potential fire, Nournews tweeted.
Rescue team spots the exact site of President Raisi’s helicopter landing
The exact site where the helicopter carrying the president and his companions landed has been spotted.
The helicopter has landed near a village called Ozi. The rescue team is on their way to the village. The site is hard to reach, and the rescue team is facing challenges.
Rescue team at the site of president’s helicopter landing
According to news reports, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has made a "hard" landing in Varzaghan, 106 kilometers from Tabriz, the capital city of East Azarbaijan, due to bad weather conditions.
NOURNEWS: Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, including Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iranian Foreign Minister, and the governor of East Azarbaijan, Malek Rahmati, were in the helicopter. They attended the inauguration ceremony of Khoda-Afaran and Qezel Qale-si dam earlier.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state media that a rescue team is on their way to the landing site, which is difficult to reach because of fog. According to the latest news, the rescue team has reached the landing site.
Rescue team’s attempts to find the helicopter carrying the President and Foreign Minister, which reportedly had an accident near Varzaghan, East Azarbaijan, are underway.
World leaders express concerns over the incident for the helicopter of Iran's president
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteress:
"The Secretary-General is following reports of an incident with Iranian President Raisi's aircraft with concern. He hopes for the safety of the president and his entourage," a UN spokesperson said in a statement.”
Qatar foreign ministry:
We express the State of Qatar's deep concern regarding the Iranian president's helicopter experiencing a difficult landing incident. We affirm the State of Qatar's readiness to provide all forms of support in the search for the Iranian president's aircraft. We express the State of Qatar's wishes for the safety of the Iranian president, the foreign minister and their companions," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Kuwait foreign ministry:
"We are closely following with concern the reports regarding the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and his accompanying delegation. Kuwait expresses its wishes for their safety and its support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in this critical situation."
Saudi Arabia foreign ministry:
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it stands by the Islamic Republic of Iran during these difficult circumstances and is prepared to provide any assistance the Iranian services need," the ministry said in a statement. It also said the Saudi government was following news reports regarding Raisi's helicopter with "great concern".
Russia offers help to Iran
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said in a statement that Russia is ready to help search for the missing helicopter carrying the president of Iran and investigate the cause of this accident.
"Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment carried by Russia's RIA news agency, Reuters reported.
Turkey sends search rescue teams:
Turkey is sending night vision search and rescue helicopter and 32 search and rescue mountaineers, and six vehicles, Turkish media cited the Disaster Management Agency as saying in a statement.
EU says Iran asked for help for mapping services:
"Upon Iranian request for assistance we are activating the 🇪🇺's @CopernicusEMS rapid response 📡 mapping service in view of to the helicopter accident reportedly carrying the President of #Iran and its foreign minister," Janez Lenarčič wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, President of the European Council Charles Michel reacted to reports about the incident on X, formerly Twitter.
"Following closely reports that the helicopter carrying the Iranian President and the foreign minister has been forced to land unexpectedly and their condition not yet clear," Michel said.
He added, "Together with EU member states and partners, we are monitoring the situation closely."
Turkish president says ready to provide assistance to Iran:
Turkey closely monitoring regarding helicopter crash, coordinating with Iranian authorities and is ready to provide assistance as needed, Turkish President Recep Teyyep Erdogan said.
India PM wishes well being for President Raeisi and his entourage:
"Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage," Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India wrote on X.
Leader prays for President Raisi, other officials:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei expressed concern over fate of President Ebrahim Raeisi, praying to God that the president and other senior officials would return to the nation safely.
Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution made the remarks in a meeting with the families of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday, which was held on the occasion of the birthday of Imam Reza (a.s.).
Commenting on the news of the crash of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and other senior officials in northeast of the country, the Leader described the news as a disturbing incident this evening for the honorable president and his companions.
"We pray to God Almighty that the revered president and his companions returned to the arms of the nation. Everyone should pray for the health and safety of this group of servants."
Ayatollah Khamenei further assured the people that, "do not worry, there will be no disruption in the affairs of the country."
Pakistani PM prays for Pres. Raisi, other high-ranking Iranian officials accompanying him:
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has sent out a message, whishing health and safety for the Iranian president and his accompanying officials in the helicopter incident.
"Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation," wrote Shehbaz Sharif in a post on his X account.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he was “deeply concerned” about the news of the crash and expressed his wishes for the Iranian president and foreign minister.
“My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raeisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation," he posted.
Iraqi PM offers help to Iran amid helicopter crash:
The Iraqi government announced that Baghdad has offered to help Iran search for the missing helicopter carrying Iranian president and other high-ranking officials. Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani said in a statement that "We are ready to help find the president's helicopter."
Azeri president offers assistance to Iran:
Azerbaijan is ready to provide assistance regarding helicopter incident involving the President of Iran, the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in post on social media.
"Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran. Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on X.
NOURNEWS