Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash after an hours-long search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest, state media confirmed.
The Iranian government is yet to issue an official confirmation of the death. However, Iran’s Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that “all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred”.
President Ibrahim Raisi and his team were returning after attending the opening ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border when the helicopter experienced a hard landing during its return journey.
A total of nine people, including a provincial governor, were on board the U.S.-manufactured Bell 212 helicopter when the aircraft went down in northern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province on May 19, 2024.
The bodies of those killed in the helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president will be transported to the city of Tabriz, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent said, according to Iran’s Tasnim News.
Iran’s supreme Leader paid tribute to Raisi as he posted a photo of him and Raisi with a brief message referring to Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam and a revered figure in Iran.
Raisi was seen as a strong contender to succeed Ali Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Massive rescue efforts
Mountainous terrain and poor weather conditions have made it difficult for search teams to reach the site. Thick fog surrounded ambulances and rescue workers as they searched for the site of the crash in Iran, state media videos showed.
More than 70 rescue teams using search dogs and drones were sent to the site, the Red Crescent said. The chief of staff of Iran’s army ordered all the resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guards to be deployed.
Turkish drone assist in search and rescue
Turkish Defense Ministry swiftly assigned the Akinci UAV, along with a Cougar-type helicopter equipped with high-level night vision capabilities to aid in search and rescue efforts.
Turkish authorities early Monday released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they “suspected to be wreckage of a helicopter.” The coordinates listed in the footage put the fire some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Azerbaijan-Iranian border on the side of a steep mountain.
Video released by the IRNA showed what the agency described as the crash site, across a steep valley in a green mountain range. Soldiers speaking in the local Azeri language said: “There it is, we found it.” Shortly after, state TV in an on-screen scrolling text said: “There is no sign of life from people on board.”
Drone footage and images of the wreckage taken by the Iranian Red Crescent and shown on state media FARS News Agency showed the crash site on a steep, tree-covered hillside.
The crash site, which is around 38 miles (61 kilometers) from the dam site on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, was first geolocated by Nathan Ruser, an analyst on the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Cyber, Tech & Security team (ASPI CTS).
Geolocation of the wreckage in initial photos from the helicopter crash that likely killed Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi.
— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) May 20, 2024
38.718959, 46.654892https://t.co/sKSggjCw9E https://t.co/xUfakrxFZr pic.twitter.com/BbwsA7iSrz
Tributes and condolences pour in
Leaders across the Middle East and beyond are expressing their condolences after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and eight others were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Turkey: Turkey is among the first countries to offer search and rescue support to Iran. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that his government is following the incident closely, in full contact and coordination with the Iranian authorities. “On behalf of my nation, I convey my get well wishes to our neighbor, friend and brother Iranian people and government, and I hope to receive good news from Mr. President and his delegation as soon as possible,” Erdogan said.
Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who met Raisi just before the accident at the dam inauguration site, said his country is ready to provide any support required by Iran. “Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbor, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed.”
Pakistan: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a day of mourning over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. “I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss. May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” Sharif wrote on the social platform. Sharif recently hosted Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian when they visited Pakistan.
Iraq: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose government coalition is close to Tehran, expressed “great sadness and great sorrow” in a statement after the deaths of Raisi and others in a helicopter crash. He also extended “sincere condolences” to Iran’s supreme leader and government and “solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people.”
Lebanon: Lebanon has announced three days of mourning over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Lebanese Foreign Minister Najib Mikati said.
Qatar: Emir of Qatar Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed “sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran” following the death of Raisi and Amir-Abdullahian.
Syria: President Bashar Al-Assad sent condolences to Iran, saying Raisi “presented to enrich relations with everything that benefits the Syrian and Iranian peoples,” state news agency SANA reported, citing Assad.
Venezuela: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he is “shocked by the terrible news of the sensitive physical loss of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Maduro said: “From Bolivarian lands, we express our deepest condolences to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wish for divine consolation for such a sensitive loss.”
UAE: United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said “The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time,” extending heartfelt sympathies to the families of those killed in the accident.
Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has extended his heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran following Raisi and Amriabdollahian’s deaths. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said. Ibrahim said that Raisi “exemplified a deep commitment to the welfare of his people and the dignity of his nation, which represents a proud and rich civilisation rooted in the principles of Islam.”
India: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: “Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”