Tehran: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian are believed to have died in a helicopter crash while traversing mountainous terrain in heavy fog, reports emerged on Monday.
Iranian state TV reported that upon discovering the helicopter, there was no sign of any passengers being alive.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The incident happened as President Raisi was returning to Tabriz after inaugurating the Qiz Qalasi Dam with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The helicopter, carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials, lost contact roughly 30 minutes into the flight, triggering immediate concerns and a large-scale search and rescue mission.
Also Read: Assam: One dead, four critically injured in Bongaigaon electrocution incident
Early reports from Iran’s state media described the incident as an “accident.”
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Deputy President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri indicated that two members of the president’s entourage had reached out to rescue teams, suggesting the crash might not have been catastrophic.
Also Read: Will Israel-Gaza war affect Joe Biden’s chances of re-election to US Presidency?
Mansouri mentioned that the Ministry of Communications had pinpointed the potential crash site to a two-kilometre radius.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari stated that the Tabriz Friday prayer leader had spoken with President Raisi, 63, via phone from the downed helicopter.
“Mehdi Safari, who was in one of the three helicopters with President Raisi’s entourage, said the Tabriz Friday prayer leader made a phone call to the president from the crashed copter,” the report noted.