TEHRAN: Uncertainty hung over the fate of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi after state media said his helicopter crashed Sunday in bad weather in a western province.
Iran launched a large-scale search and rescue operation in the fog-covered mountainous area of East Azerbaijan province.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said “the Iranian people should not worry” about the country and expressed hope that Raisi and the others on board were in good health.
This is what we know so far.
What happened?
On Sunday, Iranian state television reported that the helicopter carrying Raisi had an “accident” in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province amid bad weather conditions.
The accident occurred in the protected mountainous area of Dizmar Forest, near the town of Varzaghan, the official said. IRNA news agency.
Raisi had previously inaugurated a dam project with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, on the border between the two countries.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi described the accident as a “forced landing due to weather conditions.”
Raisi's convoy consisted of three helicopters, two of which landed safely in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
Vahidi said it was “difficult to establish communication” with the third helicopter carrying Raisi.
Also on board were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, along with the governor of East Azerbaijan and the province's chief imam, according to IRNA news agency.
How has Iran responded?
Since then, rescue teams have been scouring the area.
More than 40 rescue teams using search dogs and drones were sent to the scene, he said. IRNA.
Military personnel, as well as the Revolutionary Guard and police, were also sent there, army chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri said.
An Iranian Red Crescent team was seen on state television climbing a slope in thick fog and rain.
What would happen in the event of Raisi's death?
Iran's vice president, Mohmmad Mokhber, would assume presidential duties in the event of Raisi's death, according to Iran's constitution.
The presidential elections should be held within 50 days, according to the Constitution.
Below is a brief summary of what Iran's constitution says happens if a president becomes incapacitated or dies in office:
According to Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, if a president dies in office, the first vice president assumes office, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state, according to Reuters.
A council consisting of the first vice president, the president of parliament and the president of the judiciary must organize the election of a new president within a maximum period of 50 days.
