Iranian President Was on Board Crashed Helicopter
Neither IRNA nor state TV provided any updates on Mr. Raisi’s condition following the apparent helicopter crash that occurred in the mountainous northwest region of Iran. The incident sparked a massive rescue operation in a fog-covered forest.
The crash occurred near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, about 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Mr. Raisi, along with Iran’s Foreign Minister and other officials, were on board. Details surrounding the incident and Mr. Raisi’s condition remained unclear in the hours after the crash.
Iranian state media attributed the crash to bad weather conditions, complicating rescue efforts. The army and Revolutionary Guard were mobilized for search and rescue operations in the area.
Videos showing prayers for Mr. Raisi and live coverage of rescue efforts were broadcasted by the national broadcaster as efforts to locate the crash site continued.
Neighboring countries and the European Union offered assistance for the rescue operation. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reassured the public that there would be no disruption to state affairs.
