By Deutsche Welle
May 19, 2024, 10:51 AM EDT
Iran began this Sunday (05/19/2024) search work in the northwest of the country to find the helicopter capable of transporting the president Ebrahim Raisiwho suffered an “accident,” official media announced.
However, “unfavorable weather conditions,” including thick fog, made these tasks difficult.Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state television.
The minister did not confirm whether President Raisi was on board the device, which was part of a convoy of three helicopters in which the presidential delegation was traveling.
“Getting to the helicopter area may take time“he added. The place in question is located in the Dizmar Forest, near the city of Varzaghan.
State television had previously indicated that “some unconfirmed information indicates that the helicopter carrying President Raisi had an accident in the province of East Azerbaijan.
The official IRNA press agency later reported that Raisi, as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were among the passengers of the plane.
Raisi traveled this Sunday to the province of East Azerbaijan, where he inaugurated a dam together with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the two countries.
State television indicated that thick fog was hampering search efforts in this mountainous region.
Raisi, a 63-year-old ayatollah, has been president of Iran since 2021.
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