Helicopter carrying Iran’s President crashes, state media reports: Live updates
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday, but search and rescue workers have not yet found it because of fog, according to Iranian state media and the country’s delegation to the United Nations. dense.
Mr. Raisi, 63, has has long been a prominent figure in Iran. As president, he oversees all government affairs and is the second most powerful individual in Iran’s political structure after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It is unclear what caused the helicopter crash carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
State television did not report any casualties or the president’s condition, but urged the public to pray for the safety of Mr. Raisi, who was elected in 2021, and those traveling with him. The president’s official website also posted a prayer request message.
State news agency IRNA reported that a large-scale search operation involving 20 search and rescue teams, including drones and dogs, was underway. Reports said inclement weather hampered the effort. Crews still have not located the crash site after nearly five hours.
Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s Interior Minister, told state television: “Due to the complexity of the area, connectivity is difficult and we hope that rescue teams will reach helicopters and have can provide us with more information.”
Videos broadcast on Iranian state television showed rescue teams driving along mountain roads in thick fog and teams walking over green hills wearing red and white vests.
Mr. Raisi is on an official visit to northwest Iran. A delegation of ministers accompanied him in a convoy of three helicopters, state media reported, adding that the remaining two planes had arrived at their destination.
Here are the latest developments:
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The government canceled a planned cabinet meeting and instead convened an emergency meeting with the country’s crisis management committee, state media reported.
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Iranian law stipulates that if the president dies, power is transferred to the first vice president and an election must be called within six months. The first vice president is Mohammad Mokhber, a conservative politician.
