The Iranian media reported President Ebrahim Raisi’s death on Monday following a helicopter crash in a mountainous region, but there’s been no official confirmation yet.
Mehr agency stated that Raisi “was martyred” while serving the people of Iran, with other outlets echoing the news.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian state TV announced the accident, stating that Raisi’s helicopter had crashed in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amidst adverse weather conditions.
The incident occurred in the protected forest area of Dizmar near Varzaghan, as reported by IRNA news agency.
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand confirmed that rescue teams had located the helicopter and were en-route to the crash site.
State TV reported that there were “no signs” of life among the passengers “as of yet.”
Local media shared multiple images showing the apparent wreckage of the aircraft. Prior to the incident, President Raisi had participated in the inauguration of a dam project alongside his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, at the border between their two countries.
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi attributed the accident to a “hard landing due to the weather conditions.” Raisi’s convoy included three helicopters, with two safely landing in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
Vahidi noted the challenge of establishing communication with the third helicopter, which was transporting President Raisi. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, along with the governor of East Azerbaijan and the province’s main imam, were also reportedly on board, according to the IRNA news agency.
A total of 73 rescue teams, including search dogs and drones, were mobilised by the Red Crescent to aid in the search efforts.
Military personnel, along with the Revolutionary Guards and the police, were also deployed to the area, confirmed by the army’s chief-of-staff Mohammad Bagheri.
Red Crescent rescue teams were shown on state TV navigating steep slopes amid thick fog in their attempts to approach the helicopter’s location.
In the event of President Raisi’s death, according to Iran’s constitution, Vice President Mohmmad Mokhber would assume presidential duties if Raisi’s death is officially confirmed.
Presidential elections would subsequently be arranged within 50 days, as stipulated by the constitution.
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