Several figures from the Cuban government voiced their concerns this Sunday regarding the disappearance of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and a delegation of high-ranking officials from Iran. "Distressed by the news, we express our solidarity and best wishes and hopes to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the dear people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, hoping that President Raisi and his companions are found without harm to their health," Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel stated on the social network X.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero stated that from Cuba, they are following "the search and rescue operations for the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, after the helicopter he was traveling in made an emergency landing due to poor weather conditions in the area."
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla extended his concern further and referenced his Iranian counterpart. "All our solidarity, best wishes, and hopes to the dear people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Ebrahim Raisi, and Foreign Minister Hossein Abdollahian," he affirmed.
Early on Sunday, a helicopter transporting President Raisi experienced a "forced landing," according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The extent of the incident and Raisi's health status are currently unknown, as he was accompanied by a delegation of senior government officials.
State television reported that the incident occurred near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate the third dam that the two nations are building on the Aras River with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
It appears that adverse weather conditions forced the helicopter to make an emergency landing. Despite the swift response from rescue services, IRNA reports that fog is hindering the successful completion of the rescue operation. However, in the afternoon, the Iranian Army claimed to have located the "exact position" of the helicopter carrying the president and his delegation, thanks to a signal from the aircraft and another from a crew member's mobile phone.
As of the time of writing, no official details have been released regarding the results of this search.
Key Questions About the Disappearance of President Raisi's Helicopter
The following questions and answers provide crucial information about the disappearance of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter and the ongoing rescue efforts.
What caused the helicopter carrying President Raisi to make an emergency landing?
The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing due to poor weather conditions in the area.
Where did the helicopter incident occur?
The incident took place near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
Who was traveling with President Raisi?
President Raisi was accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking officials from the Iranian government.