Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi Missing After Helicopter Crashes in Mountain

The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian are missing after their helicopter crashed while crossing mountainous terrain in heavy fog. The crash happened as they were returning from a visit to the Azerbaijan border in northwest Iran. Officials indicated that Raisi and Amirabdollahian’s lives were at risk.

The bad weather, which caused the crash, was also making rescue efforts difficult. Iran’s army chief of staff ordered all available resources, including those of the elite Revolutionary Guard, to assist in the search and rescue operations. Despite darkness and rain creating muddy conditions, rescue teams were determined to reach the crash site by Sunday evening. State TV showed prayers for Raisi and live coverage of the rescue efforts.

This crash occurs during a time of increasing dissent in Iran, with political, social, and economic crises, alongside international pressure over Iran’s nuclear program and its military ties with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. President Raisi, elected in 2021, has been known for tightening morality laws, cracking down on protests, and being tough in nuclear negotiations. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major policies, has been a mentor to Raisi and endorsed his policies.

Raisi is seen as a strong contender to succeed the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has been the supreme leader since 1989. Raisi’s election brought all branches of power under hardliner control after eight years of pragmatist Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, during which a nuclear deal with Washington was negotiated. However, Raisi’s position might have been weakened by widespread protests against clerical rule and his inability to improve Iran’s economy, which suffers under Western sanctions.

Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who attended the event, offered help in the rescue efforts.

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