By Contrary to the earlier wrong photo used by Bobnews24.com, which must have made readers assume Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was seen leaving a helicopter crash site, in a shocking turn of events, it is highly believed that the life of Ebrahim Raisi still hangs in the balance following a helicopter crash near the border with Azerbaijan. As of the time of the update to the story, the fiery Iranian leader and those in the aircraft have not been found. There are frantic efforts by officials to locate the site of the crash. The incident occurred while Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 375 miles northwest of Tehran.
An eerie photograph captured moments before the crash shows President Raisi staring out of the aircraft, which was part of a convoy of three helicopters. The crash site was discovered after a frantic search mission, but details about the exact location and the fate of the passengers remain unclear.
According to an Iranian official who spoke to Reuters, the lives of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Friday prayer Imam Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Al-Hashem, and other high-ranking officials who were reportedly on board are at risk. The Iranian army and guard resources have been fully mobilized in the search and rescue efforts.
As news of the crash spread, many began urging the public to pray for the safety of President Raisi and the other passengers. Rescue crews faced challenges due to the heavy fog and rugged mountain terrain in the area where the helicopter was believed to have crashed.
Iranian state TV reported that contact had been made with a passenger and a crew member on board the helicopter, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the dire situation. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has expressed his prayers for President Raisi’s safety.
The incident has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Joe Biden being briefed on the situation. The White House stated that the U.S. is closely monitoring the reports. Iraq has also offered assistance to Iran in the search and rescue mission.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, issued a statement expressing “great concern” over the incident and solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership, government, and people.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown, with one local government official using the term “crash” to describe the incident while acknowledging that he had yet to reach the site himself. State TV aired images of SUVs racing through a wooded area as part of the rescue efforts.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed that the helicopter was forced to make a hard landing due to adverse weather conditions and fog. He emphasized the challenges faced by rescue teams in reaching the crash site and establishing contact with the passengers.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iran launching an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel just last month under the leadership of President Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Raisi, a hard-liner who previously led Iran’s judiciary, is viewed as a protĂ©gĂ© of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor to the 85-year-old leader. He won the 2021 presidential election, which saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history, and is sanctioned by the U.S. for his involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988.
As the world watches and waits for updates on the fate of President Raisi and the other passengers, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of political leadership in the volatile region.
Credit: CNN
