In a tragic incident, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have been reported dead by local media following a helicopter crash on Sunday in mountainous and icy conditions. On Monday, rescue teams found the wreckage of the helicopter in East Azerbaijan province and confirmed their deaths. On Sunday,  May 19, the world was shocked by the news of a helicopter crash involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. By Monday, Iranian state media confirmed that there were "no survivors" found at the crash site.

President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were on board the helicopter, which crashed while returning from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran's northwest. The incident occurred near Jolfa, a city close to the Azerbaijani border, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. The crash site was described as a forested area by the state-run news agency IRNA.

Early Monday, a Turkish Bayraktar Akinci drone identified a heat source believed to be the helicopter's wreckage. The drone provided precise coordinates to Iranian authorities, aiding in the ongoing search and rescue operations, according to Turkey's Anadolu Agency.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assured the public that there would be no disruption to state affairs despite the crash. Iranian state media attributed the crash to bad weather, which was also hindering rescue efforts. The helicopter involved was a U.S.-made Bell 212.

The chief of staff of Iran’s army has mobilized all available resources, including the elite Revolutionary Guards, for the search and rescue mission. On Sunday, state media reported that ambulances and rescue teams were dispatched immediately after the crash was reported. The Iranian Red Crescent Society's head, Pirhossein Kolivand, confirmed that rescue teams were near the suspected crash site. Heavy rains and poor weather conditions are making it difficult for rescuers to reach the area.

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