Iranian President's Helicopter Crashes, Search Efforts Escalate With 40 Teams

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter has crashed, according to Iranian state television. Raisi was aboard the helicopter when the accident occurred, leading to an emergency landing. Iran's Interior Minister reported that contact with Raisi has been lost since the crash. Al Jazeera noted that over 40 teams have been deployed in the search effort.

The incident occurred in East Azerbaijan, according to reports. After the helicopter's emergency landing, the President's companions informed the Central Headquarters. It is believed that everyone aboard the helicopter is safe.

There were three helicopters in the President's convoy, carrying ministers and officials in two of them. Reports indicate that Mohammad Ali Hashem, Imam, and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were also with President Raisi. Raisi traveled to Azerbaijan on Sunday morning to inaugurate a dam alongside Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Iran collaborated with Azerbaijan to build this third dam on the Aras River.

Raisi is considered close to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Before becoming President in 2021, Raisi headed Iran's judiciary. The US imposed sanctions on Raisi for his involvement in the execution of thousands of political prisoners during the 1988 Iran-Iraq war. Currently, Iran supports Gaza and Russia in the political arena.

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