Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian tragically passed away after their helicopter crashed in a forest near the Iran-Azerbaijan border. The wreckage was found by a Turkish drone and images from the scene showed little remaining of the helicopter. The state TV reported that the crash was due to bad weather and fog, and that the helicopter model was a US-made Bell 212. This news comes as a shock to the nation and the international community, as Iran mourns the loss of its newly elected President.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others, was feared missing after their helicopter went missing in a dense fog during a trip to East Azerbaijan province. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reassured the nation that there would be no disruption in the country despite the incident. A massive search and rescue effort was launched, with offers of assistance and prayers coming in from countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. The cause of the crash is still uncertain, but the nation remains hopeful for the safe return of its president.