Search continues for Iranian president, delegation after chopper crash

TEHRAN, Iran

Search and rescue operations continued early Monday in the mountainous terrain of northwestern Iran several hours after a helicopter in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage were traveling crashed.

More than 65 emergency rescue teams have been dispatched to the area in East Azerbaijan Province where the incident took place, but inclement weather has hampered efforts.

According to the latest reports, the radius of the search operation where the helicopter carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, senior cleric Ayatollah Al-Hashem and East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rehmat suffered a “hard landing” has been reduced to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) from 20 (12 miles).

However, conditions remain unfavorable amid dense fog, heavy rain and rough terrain in the area.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, told state TV that rescue teams searched some places where they thought the chopper could have crashed but discovered nothing.

He hastened to add that rescue teams have now zeroed in on another location in the mountainous region where they are currently engaged in a search operation, adding the conditions are difficult.

Ruhullah Mutafakir Azad, a member of the Iranian parliament from East Azerbaijan Province, was quoted by state media as saying that armed forces members, ministers, lawmakers and provincial officials are all present on the ground and sufficient equipment has been made available for search and rescue operations.

He expressed hope that “good news” about the condition of Raisi and his entourage will be announced in a few hours after the rescue efforts produce the “desired results.”

Among those present at the site of the incident include Deputy Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander-in-chief General Hossein Salami, who are reportedly overseeing the search and rescue operations.

Earlier in the day, General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, called on military forces to use all resources to rescue the president and his companions.

Speaking to state TV, Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari, who was traveling in another helicopter and made it to his destination safely, said the Tabriz Friday prayer leader who was accompanying Raisi made calls twice after the accident and spoke about his “bad condition.”

Reports about rescue teams discovering the presidential chopper could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, people gathered at Vali Asr Square, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Iranian capital, on Sunday night, praying for the safety and well-being of Raisi and his entourage.

Special prayer sessions were also held in the revered Imam Reza Shrine of Mashhad, Raisi’s hometown. He previously headed the shrine before becoming the head of the Iranian judiciary.

In remarks on Sunday evening, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged everyone to pray for Raisi and others accompanying him, describing them as “servants” of the Iranian nation.

The incident took place after Raisi joined his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev for the inauguration and commissioning ceremony of a hydraulic project on the border with Azerbaijan.