Helicopter carrying president of Iran has crashed

Rescuers in Iran are trying to reach a helicopter involved in “an incident” while travelling with an entourage including President Ebrahim Raisi, state television reported. There was no immediate elaboration on what happened to the helicopter, nor who was on board.

Semi-official news agencies offered varying explanations for what was happening. Mr Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province.

State TV described the area of the incident happening as being near Jolfa, a city on the border with with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 375 miles northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Mr Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early on Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River. Iran flies a variety of helicopters in the country, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them.

Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ebrahim Raisi assumed office on August 5, 2021. Before becoming president, Raisi had a long career in the Iranian judiciary, where he held several key positions, including serving as the Chief Justice of Iran from 2019 to 2021. He is also a member of the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader of Iran.

Raisi is known for his hardline stance and close alignment with the conservative factions in Iran. His presidency marks a continuation of the conservative dominance in Iranian politics, particularly in the context of the 2021 election, which was characterized by a limited field of candidates after several prominent reformist and moderate candidates were disqualified from running.

Throughout his career, Raisi has been associated with controversial judicial decisions. His presidency has focused on addressing Iran's economic challenges, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as pursuing a more confrontational foreign policy stance, particularly concerning negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

Raisi's administration aims to strengthen Iran's self-reliance, improve economic conditions, and uphold the Islamic Republic's principles against perceived Western encroachments. His leadership style and policies are seen as part of a broader effort to consolidate conservative power in Iran's political landscape.