President Ebrahim Raisi Survives Helicopter Mishap in East Azerbaijan

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in a helicopter incident described by Iranian state TV as a “rough landing.”

The incident occurred on Sunday near Jolfa, a city close to the Azerbaijan border, approximately 600 kilometres northwest of Tehran. President Raisi was visiting Iran’s East Azerbaijan province at the time.

Details about the incident remain unclear as Iranian media have provided contradictory reports, and no official confirmation has been issued regarding the specifics of the event or the condition of those onboard. The helicopter reportedly carried President Raisi, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials.

Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, impeded rescue teams’ progress to the crash site.

The state-run IRNA news agency has not updated President Raisi’s status following the incident. Meanwhile, a local government official referred to the incident as a “crash” in comments to an Iranian newspaper. However, he noted that he had not yet arrived at the site.

Earlier that day, President Raisi was in Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, marking the third collaboration on the Aras River.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by Iran in maintaining its aviation fleet, which includes various types of helicopters. Owing to international sanctions, Iran has difficulties obtaining the necessary parts for these aircraft, many of which date back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.