The search mission for the missing helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is difficult as the area is still in a dark and foggy atmosphere reports said. A forest area in the Azarbijan district of Iran has been subjected to a thorough search by foot and air seeking any clue of the landing or crashing site of the helicopter.
The helicopter went missing after returning from the opening ceremonies of dams in Azerbaijan with Azer President Ilham Aliyev.
Reports said that two other helicopters carrying another Iranian minister returned safely from the location.
The foreign ministry of Iran says that the accident has taken place in the region of East Azerbaijan province and they further say that rescue teams to reach the accident site continue earnestly and with hope.
Following the incident which took place Sunday afternoon several countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Meanwhile, the European Union announced that they have activated satellite mapping to assist with the search.
Iran’s Red Crescent has deployed 40 teams to assist the search mission.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader told Iranians to do not to worry following the reports of the accident, which their president and foreign minister met and has said that there will be no disruption in the country’s work. He urged Iranian people to pray for the president’s life.
Iran’s President Dr Raisi visited Sri Lanka three weeks ago (On April 24th) for the opening ceremony of Iran funded Uma Oya project. He landed at Mattala International Airport and traveled and returned in a helicopter to and from the dam site.
President Raisi,64 born in the eastern city of Mashhad in 1960. He was a Muslim jurist turned politician. Dr. Raisi has served as a prosecutor and as a judge in Iran. He is the eighth Iranian president.
