A tragic incident unfolded today as a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian crashed in the mountains of the Jofa region in East Azerbaijan. The 63-year-old President was visiting the province to inaugurate a dam project with Azerbaijanian President Ilham Aliev when the accident occurred.
The helicopter was part of a fleet that took off in dense fog and harsh weather conditions, with two other helicopters safely reaching their destination. However, Raisi and Amirabdollahian’s lives were reported to be at risk following the crash, and rescue efforts were complicated by bad weather.
Leaders from around the world, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Azerbaijani President Aliyev, expressed their concern and offered assistance in locating the crashed helicopter. The US State Department and President Biden were also closely monitoring the situation.
Ebrahim Raisi, who came to power in 2021, is known to be close to Iran’s Supreme Leader and has faced challenges during his term, including widespread protests and civil unrest. His presidency followed a controversial election and a period of tension with the US over the nuclear deal.
As rescue teams continue their efforts to locate the crashed helicopter and ensure the safety of the President and Foreign Minister, the world watches with bated breath for updates on this developing story.