Iranian state media reported on Monday that rescue teams have located the helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials. According to Iranian state television, there is "no sign of life" at the crash site.

Incident Overview

The Iranian Red Crescent Society confirmed that search teams identified the crashed helicopter, which was transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and other high-ranking officials. The helicopter went down in a mountainous region of northwestern Iran while returning from an event near the Iran-Azerbaijan border.

Confirmation and Search Efforts

On Sunday, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi acknowledged the helicopter's "hard landing" and stated that search-and-rescue operations were underway. Vahidi noted the challenges faced by rescue teams due to fog and adverse weather conditions. Despite these difficulties, various rescue groups were advancing toward the crash site.

"There have been contacts with [the president's] companions, but given that the area is mountainous and it is difficult to establish contacts, we hope that the rescue teams will reach the site of the incident sooner and give us more information," Vahidi said.

Rescue Operation Details

IRNA, the state-run news agency, reported that two passengers on the flight had managed to communicate with rescue workers. In total, twenty rescue teams, equipped with drones and dogs, were dispatched to the scene. The Iranian military also deployed troops to assist in the efforts. Fars News Agency shared video footage showing rescue teams moving toward the site of the helicopter's "hard landing."

Public Reactions

Earlier, the Iranian government's official social media account posted an image of President Raisi with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev at the opening of a dam along the border between the two countries. Additionally, Raisi's Instagram page called for prayers for his health and the well-being of his fellow passengers.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, expressed hope for Raisi's safe return. "We hope Almighty God will return the respected, esteemed President and his entourage to the arms of the nation," Khamenei posted. He assured that the government would continue to function during the ongoing situation.

Background on President Raisi

Ebrahim Raisi, a former cleric and judge, was elected President of Iran in 2021. Known as a relative hard-liner, Raisi maintained that Iran would honor its nuclear deal with the U.S., despite the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. Raisi's tenure has been marked by a hard stance on various issues, including a recent celebration of an attack on Israel following an airstrike in Damascus.

Constitutional Provisions

According to the Iranian constitution, if the president dies while in office, the first vice president, with the supreme leader's approval, assumes the presidency. A new election must be held within 50 days.