A helicopter believed to be carrying top Iranian leaders reportedly crashed in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, according to Iranian state media.
The New York Times reported that the helicopter was believed to be carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said that more than a dozen rescue teams were searching for the helicopter but have yet to locate it due to extremely thick fog.
“Given the complexities of the region, connection has been difficult, and we are hoping that the rescue teams reach the helicopter and can give us more information,” Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s interior minister, told state television.
State media aired footage that it claimed was from rescue teams en route to the area to try to locate the helicopter.
NEW
Islamic Republic state media has aired this footage it says is of rescue teams en route to the area where it is believed that the Islamic Republic’s president’s helicopter either landed or crashed.
The foggy weather is making rescue attempts much more difficult the… pic.twitter.com/lBw0g8hQ80
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 19, 2024
According to Iranian law, if the president of the country dies, his power is transferred to the first vice president, and an election must take place within the next six months.
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Iranian state media aired footage of First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber traveling to Tabriz to oversee search and rescue efforts.
NEWS
Mohammad Mokhber, the Islamic Republic’s first Vice-President, is en route to Tabriz, Iran to oversee search and rescue efforts.
Islamic Republic state media continues to publish videos of search and rescue efforts. pic.twitter.com/8yUgX5ogbH
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 19, 2024
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