An Iranian official informed Reuters that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed on Sunday while navigating heavy fog over mountainous terrain on their return from a visit to the Azerbaijan border. The official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that Raisi and Amirabdollahian’s lives were “at risk following the helicopter crash.”
The official added, “We are still hopeful, but information coming from the crash site is very concerning.”
Rescue efforts were hindered by poor weather conditions, according to the state news agency IRNA. State TV interrupted its regular programming to broadcast prayers for Raisi across the country and provided live coverage of rescue teams searching the mountainous area on foot in heavy fog.
President Raisi, 63, was elected in 2021 on his second attempt. Since taking office, he has enforced stricter morality laws, overseen a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, and pursued aggressive nuclear negotiations with world powers.
In Iran’s dual political system, where the clerical establishment and the government share power, the supreme leader holds ultimate authority over major policies. Raisi is considered a strong candidate to succeed the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has strongly supported Raisi’s policies.
Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state TV that one of the three helicopters in the group had made a hard landing, and authorities were awaiting further details. Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalaisi Dam, a joint project.