Khamenei reacts to President Raisi's helicopter incident
Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei commented on the helicopter accident involving President Ebrahim Raisi and several companions, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian.
He stated, "The unsettling incident involving the president and his companions is unfortunate. We hope for their safe return to the homeland. Certainly, we must pray for the safety of this president who has served the nation."
Khamenei reassured the public, saying, "The Iranian people should not worry; there will be no disruption in the country's affairs."
He added, "We ask God to bring the president and his companions back safely to the nation."
Meanwhile, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, has ordered an investigation into the helicopter accident involving President Ebrahim Raisi.
He directed the army, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and the police leadership to use all available resources to investigate and assist the helicopter carrying the president and his entourage.
Search operations are ongoing for the helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi when it encountered an "accident" in northwestern Iran.
State television reported that the helicopter carrying the president had an accident in the Julfa region of East Azerbaijan Province.
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Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi informed state television that the helicopter made a difficult landing due to adverse weather conditions, making communication with the aircraft challenging.
The minister confirmed that search operations had begun to locate the helicopter despite unfavorable weather conditions, including heavy fog.
Vahidi noted that it might take some time to reach the helicopter's location, which is in the Dizmar Forest near the city of Fareghan.
State television broadcast images of Iranian Red Crescent members navigating dense fog.
Tasnim News Agency reported that two other helicopters in the group arrived safely at their destinations.
The official Iranian News Agency (IRNA) reported that President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were among the passengers on the helicopter.
IRNA added that more than 20 rescue teams were dispatched, equipped with drones and rescue dogs.
