Rescuers have located the site where a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on May 19. The incident occurred in a mountainous region near the town of Varzeqan, close to the Iran-Azerbaijani border.
A large-scale search operation, involving the Red Crescent Society, military, and police forces, was launched to find the downed helicopter. Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi reported that adverse weather conditions, including thick fog, hindered the rescuers' efforts to access the crash site.
To locate President Raisi, Türkiye deployed its Akinci night vision drone, and several countries, including Iraq, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, offered assistance. The European Commission also activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service to provide satellite imagery.
Al Jazeera reports that rescuers have found the helicopter but have not yet confirmed the condition of President Raisi. An Iranian official told Reuters that the helicopter was engulfed in flames following the hard landing.
The helicopter was carrying President Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, and East Azerbaijan Governor Ayatollah al-Hashim. The officials were returning from a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev after participating in the opening ceremony of a dam on the Aras River.
Currently, the status of President Raisi and his companions remains unknown. The challenging weather and terrain have forced search and rescue operations to proceed without aerial support. The people of Iran are praying for the safety of their president and his team.
In the event of President Raisi's death, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, with the consent of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will assume presidential duties. According to Iranian law, a new presidential election would be held within 50 days.
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