The search effort has been intensive, with greater than 60 rescue groups engaged.
New Delhi:
An unmanned aerial automobile (UAV) has probably pinpointed the situation of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi that went lacking over a mountainous area in East Azerbaijan province, a report mentioned.
Listed here are 10 factors on this large story:
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The incident occurred throughout President Raisi’s return flight to Iranian metropolis Tabriz after he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam on their shared border. Video footage of the purported crash web site could be considered right here.
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The helicopter, carrying President Raisi, Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and different officers, misplaced contact roughly half-hour into the flight. This sparked quick issues and a large search and rescue operation.
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Preliminary stories from Iran’s state media described the scenario as an “accident.” Iran’s Deputy President for Government Affairs Mohsen Mansouri mentioned that two members of the president’s entourage had contacted rescue groups, suggesting that the incident may not have been catastrophic. Mansouri added that the Ministry of Communications had managed to slender down the potential crash web site to inside a two-kilometre radius.
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Iranian state media reported that Deputy Overseas Minister for Financial Diplomacy Mehdi Safari claimed that the Tabriz Friday prayer chief had managed to talk with President Raisi, 63, through cellphone from the downed helicopter. “Mehdi Safari, who was current in one of many three helicopters carrying President Raisi’s entourage, mentioned the Tabriz Friday prayer chief had made a cellphone name to the president from contained in the crashed copter,” the report reads.
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Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged calm and guaranteed that there can be no disruption within the nation’s governance. “We hope that Almighty God will deliver our expensive president and his companions again in full well being into the arms of the nation,” he said in a televised deal with.
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The search effort has been intensive, with greater than 60 rescue groups, together with military, Revolutionary Guard forces, and police items, scouring the foggy, mountainous terrain. The tough climate circumstances and heavy fog have considerably hampered these efforts. Iran’s Purple Crescent chief, Pirhossein Koolivand, mentioned the crew has detected a “odor of gasoline” in a single space, which rescue groups at the moment are converging on.
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The worldwide group has expressed concern and provided help. Neighbouring nations and organisations, together with Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Turkey, and the European Union, have pledged help. The EU has even activated its fast response mapping service to assist within the search efforts.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed his “deep concern” with a put up on social media. “Deeply involved by stories concerning President Raisi’s helicopter flight at this time. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian folks on this hour of misery, and pray for nicely being of the President and his entourage,” he mentioned in a put up on X.
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Iranian Overseas Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani conveyed gratitude for the worldwide solidarity and gives of assist. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the scenario, with a State Division spokesman confirming they’re carefully monitoring developments.
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This incident follows a interval of heightened regional tensions, significantly in gentle of the Gaza battle and Iran’s current escalations with Israel. President Raisi, who has been in workplace since 2021, has pledged Iran’s steadfast help for Palestine, a stance reiterated throughout his current dam inauguration speech.