Iranian Interior Minister details helicopter's hard landing with President Raisi on board

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi explained the "hard landing" of a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi in the Julfa region of East Azerbaijan Province, located in northwest Iran.

Vahidi stated on Sunday that there had been contact with the president's entourage, but due to communication challenges in the area, they were awaiting more information from the rescue teams upon their arrival at the landing site.

He mentioned that one of the helicopters had to make a difficult landing, prompting rescue teams to respond from both sides of the region. The adverse weather conditions would delay the completion of their mission.

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Vahidi highlighted that the region's complexity and poor communication made the situation more challenging, and they were waiting for rescue teams to report back.

The Iranian News Agency had previously reported that President Raisi's plane had an "emergency landing" in the northwest of the country on Sunday.

The agency noted that severe weather conditions and dense fog hindered the rescue teams' efforts. Sixteen rescue teams were dispatched, but the unfavorable weather would extend the search and rescue operation.

According to the IRNA news agency, President Raisi visited East Azerbaijan Province on Sunday, where he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a dam on the border between the two countries. The IRNA reported that Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian were among the helicopter's passengers.

Ebrahim Raisi, 63, has been the President of Iran since June 2021.