to report «iusnews»; Media reports say an incident took place for one of the 3 helicopters carrying the Iranian President' and his accompanying convoy on the visit to East Azarbaijan Province in northwest Iran on Sunday.
President Raeisi was returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
Mehr reporter's follow-up on the news indicate that a few minutes ago, the helicopter carrying the president and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian crashed in the foggy weather in the northern region of East Azarbaijan.
The president and his convoy were traveling the distance between Khodaafarin and Tabriz but their helicopter crashed in bad weather conditions in the Dizmar forest and mountainous district between Uzi and Pir Dawood villages.
The bad weather conditions including heavy fog and rain are to blame for the helicopter crash.
There have been not confirmed reports on fate of the occupants on the helicopter in the incident yet.
The search and rescue team are approaching the site of the helicopter crashe, according to the latest reports.
Some local media at first reported that the chopper had made a hard landing due to the bad weather conditions.
Syria foreign ministry:
Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates expressed Damascus's full solidarity with Iran and prayed for the well-being of President Raeisi and his accompanying team.
In a statement, the ministry said Syria is following with great interest and concern reports about the incident and the ongoing research operation.
The ministry affirmed its confidence in the ability and wisdom of Iranian officials and people to overcome this difficult circumstance and its readiness to provide any possible assistance.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteress:
"The Secretary-General is following reports of an incident with Iranian President Raisi's aircraft with concern. He hopes for the safety of the president and his entourage," a UN spokesperson said in a statement.
The precise location of the incident identified:
Asghar Abbasgholizadeh, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Eastern Azerbaijan said that his forces detected a signal from the helicopter and the mobile phone of one of the crew at the incident site.
"Right now, we are leaving with all the military forces to the area in question and I hope we will give good news to the people," the commander said.
Qatar foreign ministry:
We express the State of Qatar's deep concern regarding the Iranian president's helicopter experiencing a difficult landing incident. We affirm the State of Qatar's readiness to provide all forms of support in the search for the Iranian president's aircraft. We express the State of Qatar's wishes for the safety of the Iranian president, the foreign minister and their companions," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Kuwait foreign ministry:
"We are closely following with concern the reports regarding the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and his accompanying delegation. Kuwait expresses its wishes for their safety and its support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in this critical situation."
Saudi Arabia foreign ministry:
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it stands by the Islamic Republic of Iran during these difficult circumstances and is prepared to provide any assistance the Iranian services need," the ministry said in a statement. It also said the Saudi government was following news reports regarding Raisi's helicopter with "great concern".
Russia offers help to Iran
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said in a statement that Russia is ready to help search for the missing helicopter carrying the president of Iran and investigate the cause of this accident.
"Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment carried by Russia's RIA news agency, Reuters reported.
Turkey sends search rescue teams:
Turkey is sending night vision search and rescue helicopter and 32 search and rescue mountaineers, and six vehicles, Turkish media cited the Disaster Management Agency as saying in a statement.
EU says Iran asked for help for mapping services:
"Upon Iranian request for assistance we are activating the 's @CopernicusEMS rapid response mapping service in view of to the helicopter accident reportedly carrying the President of #Iran and its foreign minister," Janez Lenarčič wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, President of the European Council Charles Michel reacted to reports about the incident on X, formerly Twitter.
"Following closely reports that the helicopter carrying the Iranian President and the foreign minister has been forced to land unexpectedly and their condition not yet clear," Michel said.
He added, "Together with EU member states and partners, we are monitoring the situation closely."
President Raeisi's helicopter reportedly found by rescue team:
According to Al Alam TV telegram channel , "Minutes ago, the the search and rescue teams sent to the site of the crash could find the copter of the president and his entourage after hours of searching."
However, Iran Red Crescent has rejected the news on finding the copter as false.
Turkish president says ready to provide assistance to Iran:
Turkey closely monitoring regarding helicopter crash, coordinating with Iranian authorities and is ready to provide assistance as needed, Turkish President Recep Teyyep Erdogan said.
Vice President says two people accompanying president made contacts:
Executive Vice President Mansouri told National TV that half an hour after the departure of the President's helicopter, the communication with the other two helicopters was cut off.
"After this incident, two helicopters searched the area" he also said.
"Another promising point is that the site of the incident has been identified by the Ministry of Communications within a radius of two kilometers," Mansouri added.
India PM wishes well being for President Raeisi and his entourage:
"Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage," Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India wrote on X.
Leader prays for President Raeisi, other officials:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei expressed concern over fate of President Ebrahim Raeisi, praying to God that the president and other senior officials would return to the nation safely.
Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution made the remarks in a meeting with the families of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday, which was held on the occasion of the birthday of Imam Reza (a.s.).
Commenting on the news of the crash of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and other senior officials in northeast of the country, the Leader described the news as a disturbing incident this evening for the honorable president and his companions.
"We pray to God Almighty that the revered president and his companions returned to the arms of the nation. Everyone should pray for the health and safety of this group of servants."
Ayatollah Khamenei further assured the people that, "do not worry, there will be no disruption in the affairs of the country."
Pakistani PM prays for Pres. Raeisi, other high-ranking Iranian officials accompanying him:
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has sent out a message, whishing health and safety for the Iranian president and his accompanying officials in the helicopter incident.
"Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation," wrote Shehbaz Sharif in a post on his X account.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he was “deeply concerned” about the news of the crash and expressed his wishes for the Iranian president and foreign minister.
“My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raeisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation," he posted.
Iraqi PM offers help to Iran amid helicopter crash:
The Iraqi government announced that Baghdad has offered to help Iran search for the missing helicopter carrying Iranian president and other high-ranking officials. Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani said in a statement that "We are ready to help find the president's helicopter."
Azeri president offers assistance to Iran:
Azerbaijan is ready to provide assistance regarding helicopter incident involving the President of Iran, the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in post on social media.
"Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran. Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on X.
The Friday Prayers Imam of Tabriz, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati were accompanying the president Raeisi.
The rescue and search team are reported to have faced difficulties in reaching the site of the hard landing of the copter.
The interior minister Ahmad Vahidi has confirmed to the national TV that one of the copters of the president's convoy had made a hard landing.
"Various rescue groups are moving towards the site, but due to the fog and bad weather, it may take time to reach the area. The work is under control," Vahidi said.
"There have been contacts with [the president's] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts, we hope that the rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information," the interior minister added.
Local Iranian media have reported that it was heavily raining in the area in Varzaghan District and it is hard for the rescue and search teams to walk in the dense fog.
