Helicopter Crash Involving Senior Officials of the Islamic Republic; Reuters Reports Raisi's Life is in Danger

Iranian news agencies have reported vague and imprecise news about an incident involving a helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Imam of Tabriz, and also Malek Rahmati, the governor of East Azerbaijan. They state that rescue operations are underway, but after hours, there is no precise information available about their fate. The helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and his companions crashed on Sunday in East Azerbaijan province, and as of the early hours of Tuesday, May 31, no definitive news about his condition and that of his companions has been published. Initially, the ISNA news agency reported, citing 'some unofficial sources', that 'some companions of the President' had been killed. According to this report, although 'official sources have not yet made any specific comments on this matter', 'the injury of some companions is certain.' However, other government news agencies in Iran reported that 'an incident occurred' for the helicopter carrying Raisi, stating that 'some companions' were able to establish contact with the center. The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, announced that 'three helicopters' were transferring Ebrahim Raisi and his companions to Tabriz. The other two helicopters, carrying 'some ministers and officials', 'arrived safely at their destination', but the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem, the Imam of Tabriz, and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Malek Rahmati, the governor of East Azerbaijan, crashed. ISNA also noted that the trip of Ebrahim Raisi and his companions was to inaugurate the Qiz Qalasi border dam in the Aras region, and 'due to the foggy weather in the northern part of East Azerbaijan', Raisi's convoy 'was forced to continue the journey by land.' This government news agency also reported that 'no official source has confirmed or denied this news so far', stating that 'the news network has also reported the occurrence of an incident for one of the helicopters.' Raisi had traveled to East Azerbaijan province on a one-day trip on Sunday and, along with Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi dam, which was built in cooperation between the two countries on the Aras border river. The Fars news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported in the early moments of the incident that the helicopter carrying Raisi 'crashed hard in the Varzeqan area' and 'rescue teams are on their way to the crash site.' According to this report, although 'shortly after the incident, some managed' to speak by phone with the Imam of Tabriz, who was on that helicopter, 'currently the phones are not accessible.' The state news agency IRNA reported that the crash site is 'in the central Dizmar forest, between the villages of Barazin and Ardishiri' in East Azerbaijan province and stated that with the dispatch of rescue teams, 'search operations have begun', but 'due to the difficult terrain and unfavorable weather conditions', 'the search and rescue operation will be time-consuming.' ISNA also quoted Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior, stating that 'rescue teams have not yet reached the crash site.' He also said, 'Since the area is complex, communication is somewhat difficult, and we are waiting for the rescue teams to reach the crash site and provide us with information.' According to this report, the head of the Red Crescent's rescue and relief organization also stated that 'drone and rescue teams from the Red Crescent have been dispatched to the crash site', although 'reports indicate an incident has occurred', but 'we have not received a report of a crash.' Babak Yektapars, the spokesperson for the country's emergency services, also told IRNA that 'eight ambulances have been dispatched to the crash site' and currently 'air rescue is not possible.' He stated that 'an emergency helicopter was also dispatched for rescue, but due to heavy fog, it could not land in the area and had to return.' On the other hand, according to the Mehr news agency, Pir Hossein Kolivand, the head of the Red Crescent, announced that '40 rapid response teams' have been dispatched to the crash site, stating that 'operations have been ongoing for over three hours' and '200 rescuers' from 'six provinces: Tehran, Alborz, Ardabil, Zanjan, and East and West Azerbaijan' along with 'search dogs and two Red Crescent drones' are 'searching for traces of the helicopter carrying the President. The fate of Raisi remains unclear. Mohammad Reza Mir Taj al-Dini, a representative from Tabriz in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, told the Faraz online newspaper that the helicopter carrying Raisi 'has not been found since the crash' and 'there is no news about the health status of Ebrahim Raisi.' Ahmad Alireza Beigi, another representative from Tabriz, also told Khabar Online that 'friends from the Red Crescent who were going to the area informed me that this incident occurred, and we are searching for the downed helicopter.' Jabbar Ali Zakari, the Deputy for Urban Development of East Azerbaijan, also stated that 'I have not yet reached the crash site and have no information about the details of the incident' to the Shargh newspaper, saying that 'there were three helicopters, two of which landed safely, and one of them crashed.' 'The government meeting has been suspended, and a crisis headquarters has been formed.' The Shargh newspaper's account on the social media platform X reported, citing 'some sources', that 'the government meeting has been suspended, and a crisis headquarters has been formed.' However, Ali Bahadori Jahromi, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic government, announced that the cabinet meeting today 'was held', stating that the President's executive assistant and some members of the cabinet 'have headed to Tabriz.' The United States says it is monitoring reports regarding Raisi's helicopter. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State stated: 'We are closely monitoring reports regarding the possibly hard landing of the helicopter carrying the President and Foreign Minister of Iran.' This spokesperson added that there is currently no further comment on this matter. The White House also announced that Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has been informed about the reports related to the helicopter incident involving the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Minister of Health: We hope to immediately begin medical actions after finding Raisi's helicopter. Bahram Einollahi, the Minister of Health of the Islamic Republic, stated, 'We are currently in the area, and all rescue forces are engaged in search operations. The area is very foggy, and search is difficult.' He also said that 'we have deployed all medical facilities, including emergency medicine, surgical specialists, and ambulances' and 'we hope to immediately begin medical actions after finding Raisi's helicopter.' Reuters, citing an official from the Islamic Republic: Raisi's life is in danger. According to Reuters, an official in the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the lives of Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic, and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'are in danger following the helicopter crash.' This official, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'We are still hopeful, but the information coming from the crash site is very concerning.' Rainfall has begun in the area of the helicopter crash involving Ebrahim Raisi. According to reports from state television, rainfall has started in the area of the helicopter crash involving Ebrahim Raisi. Additionally, the Mehr news agency reported that the Red Crescent organization has asked 'the public' not to go to the crash site of the President's helicopter to 'avoid crowding the area and interfering with rescue operations.' The Shargh newspaper also cited the head of the Red Crescent, who stated at 5:57 PM that 'search operations have been ongoing for over three hours', indicating that 'the helicopter crashed much earlier than reported.' The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported that Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, has ordered 'the use of all facilities, equipment, and capacities of the army, IRGC, and police command for rescue and search operations for the helicopter and the President and his companions.' Tasnim also reported that 'the dispatched Red Crescent teams, rescue teams, climbers, and volunteer groups will arrive at the probable crash site within half an hour', expressing concern that 'in two hours, with the arrival of a new cold air mass in the area, conditions will become very cold, hindering the progress of rescuers.' Discrepancies in officials' statements continue. Following the news of three rescue workers missing, the Tasnim news agency cited 'the Secretary of the Emergency Control and Coordination Center of the Red Crescent' stating: 'Any news will be published through this headquarters or the head of the Red Crescent, and other news will not be confirmed.' Some users have announced Raisi's death; the prosecutor's office warned. Concurrently with the announcement of Ebrahim Raisi's death by some well-known users on social media, the Tehran prosecutor's office warned 'media individuals about spreading false news.' According to the Tasnim news agency, the Tehran prosecutor's office 'has intervened in this matter and warned several individuals who had caused public anxiety.' Dispatch of 'nearly 100 motorcycle riders from the special unit' to the crash site. While hours earlier officials had asked 'the public forces' not to head towards the crash site of the helicopter carrying Raisi, government media now report that 'local climbers have been dispatched to the crash site' and also 'nearly 100 motorcycle riders from the special unit' have headed towards 'the probable crash site.' Khamenei expressed hope for Raisi's return to 'the embrace of the nation.' Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reacted to the helicopter incident involving the President and his accompanying delegation, stating: 'The Iranian nation should not be worried or anxious; there will be no disruption in the country's affairs.' Khamenei expressed hope that Ebrahim Raisi and his companions would 'return to the embrace of the nation.' Helicopters of the Air Force could not reach the crash site due to 'weather conditions.' According to the commander of the sixth combat base of the Islamic Republic's Air Force stationed in Tabriz, despite the presence of helicopters from this base for 'rescue operations' in the Varzeqan area, 'due to unfavorable weather conditions, the operations were unsuccessful.' European crisis management accepted the Islamic Republic's request to activate earth observation services. Janusz Lenarcic, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced in a tweet that following Iran's request for assistance, we are activating Copernicus emergency management services in the area of the helicopter incident involving the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and his Foreign Minister. Copernicus services are part of the Earth observation operations in the European Union's space program. This service provides information obtained through satellite Earth observation. Reactions from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Russia regarding the incident involving Raisi's helicopter. Saudi Arabia announced that it is following reports regarding the helicopter incident involving the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with 'serious concern.' Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, expressed deep sadness over the helicopter incident involving Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation in a post on the social media platform X. Mr. Erdogan stated that Turkey is closely monitoring the situation and is in full contact and cooperation with the Islamic Republic's officials, ready to provide any necessary support. Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, also announced that Ankara is following the incident with 'sadness' and has taken actions to assist in rescue operations. In further regional reactions to the helicopter incident involving the President of Iran, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced its readiness for 'any support.' Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Moscow is ready to provide assistance to the Islamic Republic regarding the helicopter incident involving the President of Iran. Raisi's deputy: We have contacted two helicopter passengers; 'it was not a serious incident.' Discrepancies in the reporting about the incident involving Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter continue from government media. In one of the latest events, a reporter from state television present in the area quoted the President's executive assistant as saying, 'We have had contact several times with one of the helicopter passengers and one of the helicopter crew, and it seems that it was not a serious incident.' This is while previous reports only mentioned a brief contact and stated that after that, no contact was possible. The Red Crescent: Five teams have approached the coordinates announced by the aerospace organization. Yaqoub Soleimani, the Secretary-General of the Red Crescent, stated that '15 rapid response operational teams' have gone to the crash site of the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, and 'five operational teams of the Red Crescent have approached the coordinates announced by the aerospace organization.' According to IRNA, the National Emergency Management Headquarters of the Red Crescent has been formed, and officials are seeking to 'verify the accuracy of' the contacts that have been reported 'from individuals present in the helicopter.' This news is ongoing.