A HELICOPTER carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an “incident” today – sparking a huge rescue operation.
Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on Sunday.
GettyEbrahim Raisi (left) was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on Sunday[/caption]
Iranian state media said the chopper had suffered a “hard landing” without giving any further explanation.
According to the state TV, the incident happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 375 miles northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Rescuers have rushed to the scene but were reportedly struggling to reach the area because of heavy rain and winds.
A frantic search for Raisi is underway as Red Crescent, military personnel and police support units have been deployed to the site.
The condition of the Iranian president is unclear but Tasnim news said there’s “hope” after his companions reached out to report the incident.
Tasnim News said on Telegram: “Some of the president’s companions in this helicopter have managed to contact the center, and thus the hope for the end of this incident without loss of life has increased.”
The governor of East Azerbaijan province and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian were also amongst the passengers travelling alongside Raisi.
The two other helicopters, carrying ministers and officials, have landed at their destination safely.
Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River.
Iran flies a variety of helicopters but struggles to obtain new parts for them because of international sanctions.
The country’s military air fleet also dates back to before the Islamic revolution of 1979.
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