On Sunday, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed in the Jolfa region in the north of the country, close to the border with Azerbaijan. The aircraft was part of a delegation that included two other helicopters and was accompanied by several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir Abdolahian and Governor of East Azerbaijan Malik Rahmati.
The crash occurred just hours after Raisi had inaugurated a dam on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan with that country’s president, Ilham Aliyev. This project was seen as a significant step forward in bilateral relations between the two countries. During the ceremony, Raisi emphasized the importance of the Palestinian issue to the Islamic world.
According to reports from Iran’s state media and its mission to the United Nations, rescue efforts were underway after the crash, involving 20 teams, including drones. However, after nearly five hours of searching for the helicopter, it had not been found. Bad weather conditions hampered rescue efforts further when a rescue helicopter had to turn back due to adverse weather conditions. Three members of the rescue team were also missing.
Reports suggested that Raisi and Abdolahiam’s lives were at risk during the incident, with Interior Minister confirming that one helicopter had landed due to bad weather and fog. Senior government officials traveled to the region near the crash site to monitor rescue efforts closely. The president’s official Instagram account and state television called on Iranians to pray for their well-being.
If Raisi were to pass away, according to Iranian law, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber would assume power automatically and call for new elections within six months. The accident raises concerns about potential instability in Iran’s government and may have an impact on its future direction and diplomatic relations.
In conclusion, while Raisi had just inaugurated a dam project jointly with Azerbaijan as a step forward in bilateral relations, his life was put at risk when his helicopter crashed during bad weather conditions near the border with Azerbaijan on Sunday. The accident raises concerns about potential instability in Iran’s government and may have an impact on its future direction and diplomatic relations.
