Iranian state media reported on Monday that both the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, and the country's foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, were tragically declared deceased in a helicopter crash. Despite efforts, no survivors were found at the crash site as of 8 a.m. local time, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
Earlier, the president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society had confirmed that rescue and search teams had located the wreckage of Raisi's helicopter. The aircraft, transporting Raisi, Amir Abdollahian, and other high-ranking officials, had crashed in a mountainous region of northwestern Iran while returning from an event along Iran's border with Azerbaijan.
According to IRNA, Iran's Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, confirmed on Sunday the occurrence of a "hard landing" involving the president's helicopter, stating that a search-and-rescue operation is currently underway.
"Various rescue teams are mobilizing towards the location, but due to fog and adverse weather conditions, it may take some time to access the area. However, the situation is being managed," Vahidi remarked.
He further mentioned, "There have been attempts to establish contact with [the president's] entourage. However, given the rugged terrain, communication has proven challenging. We remain hopeful that the rescue teams will promptly reach the site and provide further updates."
IRNA also reported that two passengers aboard the flight managed to communicate with rescue personnel.
Rescue teams, as depicted in this image courtesy of Moj News Agency, converge near the location of the helicopter incident involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan, located in northwestern Iran, on Sunday.Intensive search efforts were conducted by rescue teams to locate the helicopter.
IRNA reported that twenty rescue teams, equipped with drones and search dogs, were dispatched to the site. Additionally, the Iranian military had mobilized troops to support the rescue operation.
Fars News Agency shared purported video footage showing the dispatch of rescue teams to the location where the helicopter experienced a "hard landing."
Earlier in the day, an image was posted on the Iranian government's X account, depicting President Raisi seated alongside Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev during the inauguration ceremony of a dam along the border shared by the two nations.
A message shared on Raisi's Instagram account requested supporters to offer prayers for his well-being and that of his fellow passengers.
Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, conveyed his hopes for the safe return of President Raisi and his companions in a statement on X, expressing reliance on Almighty God.
Khamenei reassured that the government's operations would persist despite the unfolding circumstances.
Raisi, elected in 2021, holds a reputation for his relatively conservative stance.
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Elected president in 2021, Raisi, formerly a cleric and judge, pledged Iran's commitment to the nuclear deal with the U.S. upon assuming office, despite the U.S. withdrawal under President Donald Trump in 2018. Compared to his predecessor, Hassan Rouhani, Raisi is often seen as a hard-liner. He recently hailed Iran's response to an Israeli airstrike in Damascus, attributing the attack to Israel, though Israel did not claim responsibility. Iran's presidency holds significant authority, but ultimate power resides with the supreme leader, Khamenei, who dictates national policies and oversees their execution, including control over the Revolutionary Guard Corps and police force. Per Iran's constitution, in the event of the president's death, the first vice president assumes leadership with the supreme leader's approval, followed by a new election within 50 days, as per Reuters.