DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced a “hard landing” on Sunday, according to Iranian state media, which provided no further details. People were urged to pray for Raisi and those on board as rescue teams rushed to a misty, rural forest where the helicopter was presumed to be.
This incident occurs amidst Iran’s recent drone-and-missile attack on Israel and its uranium enrichment approaching weapons-grade levels under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, Iran faces ongoing mass protests against its Shiite theocracy due to economic issues and women’s rights, further complicating the situation as the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies tensions in the Middle East.
Raisi was in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province when the incident occurred, near Jolfa, a city bordering Azerbaijan, roughly 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of Tehran, according to state TV. Later, reports placed it near the village of Uzi, though details were inconsistent.
Among those traveling with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards, the IRNA news agency reported. A local official referred to the event as a “crash” but admitted he had not yet reached the site himself.
State media did not provide information on Raisi’s condition immediately afterward; however, hard-liners called for public prayers. State TV later showed images of people praying at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, as well as in Qom and other locations nationwide.
“The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog,” Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on state TV. “Various rescue teams are on their way to the region but because of the poor weather and fogginess, it might take time for them to reach the helicopter.”
He added, “The region is a bit rugged and it’s difficult to make contact. We are waiting for rescue teams to reach the landing site and provide more information.”
According to state TV, rescuers faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions, with reports of heavy rain, fog, and wind. IRNA described the area as a “forest” in a mountainous region. State TV broadcast footage of SUVs speeding through a wooded area.
A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the suspected site of Raisi’s helicopter but couldn’t land due to the heavy mist, emergency services spokesman Babak Yektaparast told IRNA.
Earlier on Sunday, Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. This dam is the third constructed on the Aras River between the two countries. The visit occurred despite strained relations over a gun attack on Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran in 2023 and Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel, which Iran sees as its primary regional adversary.
Iran operates various helicopters, but international sanctions challenge the acquisition of parts. The military air fleet mostly dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Raisi, 63, a hard-liner who previously led Iran’s judiciary, is considered a protégé of Khamenei, with some analysts suggesting he could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the future.
Raisi won Iran’s 2021 presidential election, which had the lowest voter turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic. He is sanctioned by the U.S. partly due to his role in executing thousands of political prisoners in 1988 following the Iran-Iraq war.
Under Raisi’s leadership, Iran currently enriches uranium nearing weapons-grade levels and obstructs international inspections. Iran has supported Russia in its conflict with Ukraine and launched a significant drone-and-missile attack on Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza. It also continues to support proxy groups in the Middle East, such as Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The country has been embroiled in mass protests for years, with the latest unrest sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly not wearing a hijab to the authorities’ satisfaction. The subsequent crackdown resulted in over 500 deaths and more than 22,000 detentions.
In March, a U.N. panel concluded that Iran was responsible for the “physical violence” leading to Amini’s death.
The U.S. State Department said it was “closely following reports of a possible hard landing of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister,” without providing further comment.
