Rescue teams have identified the suspected crash site of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter, but adverse weather conditions are hampering their efforts. The chances of finding President Raisi alive appear slim.
Rescue workers reached the scene early in the morning and began searching for survivors. Live footage on state television showed emergency responders scouring the area, while images from a drone revealed debris from a completely destroyed helicopter scattered on a slope.
“The situation is not good,” stated the head of the Iranian Red Crescent on state television, confirming the crash site had been found. An unnamed Iranian government official told Reuters there was little hope of finding Raisi alive, with state television reporting “no signs of life” at the site. “President Raisi’s helicopter was completely burned out in the crash… unfortunately all passengers are feared dead,” the official added.
Earlier, a Turkish drone had detected a heat source believed to be the wreckage. The coordinates were transmitted to Iranian authorities, as reported by Anadolu news agency.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also on board the helicopter. Rescue operations are challenging due to bad weather conditions. “It’s dark and it has started to rain,” reported a state television journalist, noting that mud and fog were further complicating the search efforts.
According to Iranian state media, 65 rescue teams were deployed overnight in the East Azerbaijan province, where the helicopter was last detected. Nine people, including the governor of the provincial capital Tabris, were on board. The Iranian government has refrained from releasing official information and warned against spreading unconfirmed reports.
President Raisi was returning from a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev when the helicopter disappeared from radar. The delegation, which included Raisi and Amirabdollahian, was returning to Iran in a convoy of three helicopters, but the presidential aircraft failed to reach its destination.
The crash site is near Jolfa, over 600 kilometers from Tehran and close to the Azerbaijani border. In addition to rescue teams, the Iranian armed forces are involved in the search, and several countries, including Turkey, have offered assistance.
Iran’s cabinet convened for an emergency meeting in the evening, chaired by First Vice President Mohammed Mochber, who would assume the role of head of government if Raisi is confirmed dead. According to the constitution, new elections must be held within 50 days in such an event.
Religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on the nation to pray for Raisi, expressing hope for his return while assuring that government operations would continue uninterrupted. “The Iranian nation should not worry. There will be no interruption in the country’s activities,” Khamenei stated, as reported by Irna.
Raisi, considered a relatively weak president in comparison to the more powerful Khamenei, was sworn in as president in August 2021, succeeding Hassan Rouhani. Raisi, a hardliner and Khamenei’s preferred candidate, won the election with nearly 62% of the vote.
The crash comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, with potential conflicts looming with Israel and strained relations with the West, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program. Despite these issues, there have been reports of renewed indirect talks with the USA in Oman.
