Iran president latest: Raisi’s life ‘at risk’ after helicopter crash in heavy fog

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi‘s life is at risk after his helicopter crashed in a “very concerning” accident amid heavy fog in northern Iran.

The aircraft had a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijan exclave Nakhchivan, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.

It was carrying Raisi, 63, and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian following a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project over the Aras River.

An Iranian official acknowleged their lives were “at risk” and said information coming from the crash site was “very concerning” with 16 teams trying to locate the helicopter.

Emergency services have been pictured rushing to track down the helicopter crash site in rain, fog and dark amid conflicting reports it had been found.

Iranian state TV has reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.

However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered.

It was reported on Sunday afternoon that a helicopter carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister had been involved in a “rough landing” in northern Iran.

It is not exactly clear what a “rough landing” meant, but a local official described it as a crash and and Iranian official went on to acknowledge the passenger’s lives were “at risk” with “very concerning” information coming from the site.

More than 16 teams including ambulances, surgeons, the army, rangers, drones and dogs have been dispatched to the area to find the helicopter but so far foggy weather conditions have slowed down the search.

Iranian state TV has reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.

However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered.

The crash site is believed to be near Jolfa and Varzaghan, two cities in Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan province in the north of the country – which borders both Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave.

Russia is ready help Iran search for a missing helicopter that crashed while carrying the country’s president Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday, the Kremlin said.

“Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She added: “We sincerely hope that they are alive and that nothing is threatening their lives and health.”

Turkey’s president has said he is “deeply saddened” by the helicopter crash involving his “brother” Ebrahim Raisi.

Writing on X, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was in full contact with the Iranian authorities and stood ready to provide any necessary support.

“I convey my best wishes to our neighbour, friend and brother Iranian people and government, and I hope to receive good news from Mr Raisi and his delegation as soon as possible,” he added.

Born to a conservative family in eastern Iran, Raisi studied theology at the seminaries in Qom, a city just south of the Iranian capital Tehran.

He was a teenager when the country’s Islamic revolution established Iran as a theocracy in 1979 and he quickly became an enthusiastic participant in enforcing the vision of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

At 21 years old, Raisi began serving as a prosecutor, pursuing politically charged cases in the cities of Karaj and Hamadan. He gained a reputation as one of the regime’s most severe figures – a young, brash ideologue, willing to get his hands dirty.

Read the full article by Athena Stavrou here:

Iranian state TV has reported that the helicopter had been found and quoted an official as saying that at least one passenger and crew member had been in contact with rescuers.

However, Iran’s Red Crescent has denied reports the aircraft was discovered. Earlier, an Iranian official acknowleged their lives were “at risk” and said information coming from the crash site was “very concerning”.

We will bring you the latest updates when we get them.

The aircraft had a “rough landing” near Jolfa, the Iranian city on the border of Azerbaijan exclave Nakhchivan, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.

It was carrying Raisi, 63, and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian following a visit with the Azerbaijani president to discuss an infrastructure project over the Aras River.

It was described as a crash by a local official, but he acknowledged an enormous search operation involving 16 teams had yet to locate the helicopter to confirm the extent of the incident.

Rescuers have not reached the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iran’s president and foreign minister, according to an Iranian government spokesperson.

In a post on X, Ali Bahadori Jahromi said there was still no update on Ebrahim Raisi and Hossein Amirabdollahian condition.

“It is the right of the people and the media to be aware of the latest news about the president’s helicopter accident, but according to the coordinates of the accident site and the weather conditions, there is no new news until now,” he said.

“In these moments, patience, prayer, and trust in relief groups are the way forward.”

The helicopter that crashed has now been found by search teams in northern Iran, state TV has reported.

There is no update on the condition of any who were on board at this stage.