by Mick the Ram

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, was forced to make a “hard landing” in the north of the country in heavy fog and rescue teams have been sent to the mountainous terrain.

It was initially believed that the incident happened near Jolfa, about 375 miles (600km) from Iranian capital, Tehran, but this was later altered to be further east, near the village of Uzi. 

The 63-year-old leader was with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in a convoy of three helicopters, returning from Azerbaijan, where the president had been for the inauguration of a dam, alongside that country’s president, Ilham Aliyev.

Iran’s army chief of staff said all resources will be used for the search and rescue operations, which are reportedly concentrating around the Sangun copper mine, where visibility is believed to be less than five metres.

Reports are indicating that brief contact was made with one of the passengers and a crew members aboard the president’s helicopter after it had crashed, but nothing since.

State TV in Iran has suspended its regular programming and is instead broadcasting footage of the rescue efforts, as well as crowds of worshippers reciting prayers in the holy Shrine of Imam Reza in the city Mashhad, which is the president’s home town.

Weather hampering search

Although Iranian forces are seemingly “close” to the assumed site of the incident, weather conditions are severely hampering their rescue efforts. A spokesperson explained that the search and rescue operation will also have to slow down further as extreme cold and rain is forecast.

Azerbaijan president sends his prayers

The president had been with the Azerbaijan president earlier on the day to open a dam, which is the third one that the two nations have built on the Aras River. Photographs have appeared on social media of the two men at the dam, as well as images of the helicopter leaving the site.

Mr Aliyev said he is profoundly troubled by the news and his prayers were with Mr Raisi and the rest of the delegation and that “as a neighbour, friend and brotherly country, Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed.”

Deep concern amongst officials

An Iranian official, speaking only on the assurance of anonymity, said the lives of both the president and foreign minister are “at risk”, adding that information coming from the crash site “is very concerning.”

The Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, gave an update which confirmed that efforts were underway, and they remained hopeful of a successful resolution. He remarked: “It’s a complicated area, and making contact is difficult; we are waiting for teams to reach the area for more information.”

Hard landing could mean crash

The term “hard landing” which has been the official line given, is a phrase often used by authorities to describe incidents when aircraft crash. Analysts have said that the word “crash” is avoided due to fears it can cause upset or panic.

Supreme leader speaks out

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has spoken on the ongoing situation: “We hope that Almighty God will return the respected and honourable president and his companions to the arms of the nation.”

Continuing, he suggested: “Everyone should pray for the health of this group of servants, but the people of Iran should not worry, there will be no disruption in the work of the country.”

Hard liner

President Raisi is a former leader of Iran’s judiciary and has a reputation as a hard-liner. He is looked on as a protégé of the Ayatollah and many see him as the natural replacement for the 85-year-old leader after his death, or resignation from the role.

Since taking office 2021, Raisi has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers. He backs the country’s security services and their crack down on all dissent.

This included the controversy surrounding Mahsa Amini, the young woman who was arrested in Tehran for opposing mandatory hijab rules.

Backing for controversial groups

He is sanctioned by the US in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the bloody Iran-Iraq war.

Under his leadership, Iran has armed Russia in its war on Ukraine, as well as launching a massive drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid their war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The country also continues to arm proxy groups in the Middle East, including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that starting from July 1st of this year, the minumum pensioners payments will increase to $1000.

The Minimum is now $850. 

Additionally, the Prime Minister emphasized that public servants can also expect routine salary increases, reflecting the positive growth and strengthening of the economy.

These measures are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support and uplift the financial well-being of retirees and public servants alike.