Iranian President's Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suffered a “hard landing” on Sunday, as reported by Iranian state media. The incident occurred in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, near the city of Jolfa, which is situated on the border with Azerbaijan. Some 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Rescue crews were dispatched to the misty, rural forest area where the helicopter was believed to have landed, and the public was urged to pray for the safety of President Raisi and the others on board. The passengers on the helicopter included Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards. Although one local government official described the incident as a “crash,” details were still unclear due to contradictory reports. State TV aired images of people praying at various religious sites across the country for the well-being of President Raisi, with hardliners urging the public to join in prayer during this time of uncertainty. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi explained that the helicopter was forced to make a hard landing due to bad weather conditions and fog. He emphasized that rescue teams were en route to the location, but the rugged terrain and poor visibility were making it challenging for them to reach the site promptly. Despite the weather hindrances, rescuers continued their efforts to locate and assist the passengers of the downed helicopter. As rescue operations continued, reports indicated that the poor weather conditions, including heavy rain, fog, and wind, were impeding the progress of the emergency response teams. The area was described as a forested, mountainous region, adding to the complexity of the search and rescue mission. A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the site but was unable to land due to the dense mist, according to a spokesperson for the emergency services. President Raisi had been on the border with Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam before the incident occurred. Despite strained relations between the two countries, Raisi and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev had recently collaborated on the construction of a dam on the Aras River. The event marked a rare show of cooperation between the neighboring nations, which have faced diplomatic tensions in recent years. Raisi, a hardliner and former judiciary chief, won Iran’s presidential election in 2021. His leadership has been marked by controversy, including his involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. He is sanctioned by the US for his role in these human rights abuses and the country's nuclear program. Under Raisi's administration, Iran has escalated its uranium enrichment activities and engaged in hostile actions in the Middle East, supporting proxy groups and participating in conflicts in the region. The US State Department confirmed that they were monitoring the situation closely but offered no further comments at the time. https://therealcrimediary.com/iranian-presidents-helicopter-makes-emergency-landing/?feed_id=54765&_unique_id=665c0ac666ee8

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