Global Reactions to the Helicopter Accident Involving Ebrahim Raisi and His Delegation

The news of the accident involving the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, and his accompanying delegation on Sunday, which domestic media refer to as a 'hard landing', has elicited widespread reactions from various countries around the world. The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department announced on Sunday evening that the department is closely monitoring reports regarding the accident. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, wrote in a message on social media platform X, 'We are closely monitoring the situation along with EU member states and our partners.' Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Moscow is closely monitoring information related to the accident and announced that Russia is ready to assist in the search operation for the missing helicopter and the investigation into the cause of the accident. According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, a group of 47 special forces equipped with high-resolution and controllable tools and a helicopter is preparing to fly from Moscow to Tabriz. Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, also expressed great concern on social media X after a friendly meeting with Ebrahim Raisi, stating, 'Today, after a friendly meeting with Ebrahim Raisi, we were deeply worried about the emergency landing of the helicopter carrying the high-ranking Iranian delegation... Azerbaijan is ready to provide various forms of support.' In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Ankara is ready to provide any necessary support to Iran. Turkey also stated that it has dispatched an Akıncı drone and a Cougar helicopter with night vision capabilities to participate in the search and rescue operation for the helicopter carrying the Iranian President. Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Ministry emphasized Saudi Arabia's 'solidarity with Iran in the current difficult circumstances' and announced Riyadh's readiness to provide any assistance that Iranian authorities may need. Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, wrote on social media X, 'I heard distressing news from Iran regarding the helicopter of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi. We are anxiously awaiting good news.' In Iraq, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani ordered assistance to the Iranian government in locating Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter. According to the Iraqi government spokesperson, 'Sudani has instructed the Ministry of Interior, the Iraqi Red Crescent, and relevant parties to provide available resources to the Islamic Republic of Iran to locate the Iranian President's helicopter, which has gone missing in the north of the country.' The Taliban Foreign Ministry in Afghanistan also expressed hope that rescue teams would successfully save the President, the Foreign Minister, and their companions, stating, 'The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stands with the government and people of Iran in this difficult situation.' Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, expressed condolences over the accident in a message on social media X, stating, 'In these difficult hours, we express our solidarity with the people of Iran and pray for the President and his accompanying delegation.' Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad also stated that they are following the news regarding the incident involving the helicopter carrying Raisi and his delegation with 'great concern.' Ebrahim Raisi had traveled on Sunday to inaugurate a dam on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan, accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and the helicopter carrying him encountered an accident while returning to Iran towards Tabriz. Search operations for the helicopter continue despite the passage of hours, but progress is slow due to darkness and adverse weather conditions.