Ebrahim Raisi: Iranian president missing after helicopter crashes in dense fog

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister are missing after a helicopter crashed while flying over mountainous terrain in dense fog on Sunday.

The Bell 212 civilian aircraft crashed between Jolfa and Varzaqan, a region on the border of the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, about 600 km (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.

It transported the 63-year-old Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian after a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project across the Aras River, which separates Iran and Nakhichevan.

“We are still hopeful, but the information from the crash site is very worrying,” an Iranian official said. He added that Raisi’s life was “in danger.”

Up to 40 rescue teams, including Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, ambulances, surgeons, drones and dogs, were summoned to locate the helicopter, which was hampered by rain, fog and darkness.

The Iranian army’s chief of staff ordered all resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guards to be used in search and rescue operations.

“We are thoroughly searching every inch of the crash area,” state media quoted a regional army commander as saying. “The area is experiencing very cold, rainy and foggy weather. The rain is gradually turning into snow.”

On Sunday, Iranian state television reported the helicopter had been found, quoting an official who said a passenger and crew member had been contacted. However, the Iranian Red Crescent denied the reports.

State media has not yet reported any casualties or confirmed the president’s whereabouts or condition – but urged Iranians to pray for the president.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds absolute power and has the final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, sought to reassure Iranians and urged them to pray for the president’s health.

“We hope that Almighty God will bring the President and his associates back to the nation. Everyone should pray for their health. “The Iranian people should not worry, there will be no disruption in the country’s work,” Khamenei said.

In Tehran, Iranian men and women were photographed publicly praying for Mr. Raisi, some kneeling and others holding their hands to heaven.

Meanwhile, Iran’s regional allies, Russia and the EU, offered help to Tehran and sent messages of support to the Islamic country.

Russia said it was ready to provide “all necessary assistance” in the search for the missing helicopter and hoped the president was still alive.

The European Union also said it had provided a satellite mapping service to Iran in response to a request from Tehran for help.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan added that he was “deeply saddened” by the crash and was ready to provide assistance to Iran.

“I convey my best wishes to my neighbor, friend and brother, the Iranian people and government, and hope to receive good news from Mr. Raisi and his delegation as soon as possible,” Mr. Erdogan said.

President Raisi is a hardliner who formerly headed the country’s judiciary. He is seen as a protégé of Mr Khamenei and some analysts have suggested he could replace the 85-year-old leader after his death or resignation from the position.

President Raisi won the 2021 Iranian presidential election, a vote with the lowest turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic.

He is sanctioned by the US in part because of his role in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the bloody Iran-Iraq War.

Iran is now enriching uranium to almost weapons-level levels and is hindering international inspections. The country has armed Russia in its war against Ukraine and launched a massive drone and missile attack on Israel as part of its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

It has also continued to arm proxy groups in the Middle East, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.