Iran Military Forces Ordered to Mobilize to Search for President’s Helicopter

Iran’s highest-ranking military commander ordered all armed forces to mobilize units to search for the helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, which has reportedly had an accident in northwestern forests on Sunday.

News ID: ۸۴۲۹۱۷

19 May 2024

EghtesadOnline: Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri ordered the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran to employ all of their capacities and equipment in search of the president’s helicopter and for the rescue and relief operations.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) had deployed 40 rescue and rapid response teams to the area where the helicopter has had an accident.

Speaking to state TV by telephone, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter of the president’s convoy returning from Jolfa has made a hard landing.

The accident happened as the president and his entourage were returning from Khoda Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan after inaugurating a dam at the common border with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Friday prayers leader of Tabriz, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e-Hashem, and Governor of East Azarbaijan Malek Rahmati were on board the helicopter.

The president’s convoy included three helicopters. Two of the choppers carrying a number of ministers and officials had landed safely in the foggy weather. / Tasnim