Rescue Efforts Intensify After Helicopter Crash in President Raisi’s Convoy; Contact Made with Two Entourage Members

Iran’s Deputy President for Executive Affairs, Mohsen Mansouri, announced today that two members of President Ebrahim Raisi’s entourage have successfully made contact with rescue teams following a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province. The incident occurred while the convoy was en route to Tabriz after President Raisi and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam.

According to Mansouri, President Raisi’s helicopter lost communication with the other helicopters in the convoy approximately 30 minutes into the flight, prompting an immediate search effort. Fortunately, the contact established by two entourage members indicates that the crash may not have been severe.

The Ministry of Communications has identified the crash location within a two-kilometer radius, aiding rescue operations. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for calm, assuring the public that the incident will not disrupt national operations.

Extensive rescue efforts are underway, with over 40 teams, including search dogs and drones, deployed to the crash site in the mountainous Dizmar forest area near Varzaghan. The Iranian Red Crescent and military personnel, including the Revolutionary Guards, are involved in the search.

International reactions have been swift, with offers of assistance from neighboring Iraq and expressions of concern from Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev and the US State Department. The accident comes amid heightened regional tensions due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

As rescue operations continue, the Iranian nation awaits further updates on the safety of President Raisi and his delegation.