What we know about the Iranian president’s helicopter accident

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said “the Iranian people should not worry” about the country and expressed hope that Raisi and the others on board would be found in good health.

Here’s what we know so far.

On Sunday, Iranian state television reported that the helicopter carrying Raisi suffered an “accident” in poor weather conditions in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province.

The accident occurred in the mountainous Dizmar forest reserve near the town of Varzaghan, the official IRNA news agency said.

Raisi had previously inaugurated a dam project on the border between the two countries together with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi described the accident as a “hard landing due to weather conditions.”

Raisi’s convoy consisted of three helicopters, including two that landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

Vahidi said it was “difficult to establish communication” with the third helicopter that carried Raisi.

According to the IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as well as the governor of East Azerbaijan and the chief imam of the province were also on board.

Rescue teams have been combing the area ever since.

According to IRNA, more than 40 rescue teams with search dogs and drones were sent to the site.

Military personnel as well as the Revolutionary Guards and police were also sent there, said Army Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri.

State television showed an Iranian Red Crescent team walking up a slope in thick fog and rain.

According to the Iranian constitution, Iran’s Vice President Mohmmad Mokhber would assume the presidential office in the event of Raisi’s death.

Presidential elections should take place within 50 days, the constitution says.

bur/mz/fz