The supreme Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Iranians not to worry about the country after the helicopter accident with President Ebrahim Raisi, BTA reported.< /strong>
"The Iranian people should not be worried. There will be no problems for the country", assured the Iranian spiritual leader and expressed hope that "God will return the president and his companions to the hands of their people". He called on everyone to pray for the health of "these servants of the people".
Reuters published a report on what will happen in Iran if the president dies or is unable to fulfill his duties.
According to Article 131 of the country's constitution, if the president dies while in office, the first vice president takes over, subject to the approval of the supreme spiritual leader, who has the final say on all state matters.
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After a council made up of the first vice president, the speaker of the parliament and the head of the judiciary, they must organize the holding of elections for a new president within 50 days.
Raisi was elected president in 2021 and his term expires in 2025.
Raisi's helicopter made a hard landing in a mountainous area earlier today in bad weather conditions, Iranian media reported, citing Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
46 rescue teams went to the place.
The head of the main operations staff of the Iranian Red Crescent Committee, Rahia Alishundi, said that four groups of rescuers have already reached the coordinates believed to be at the site of the accident, state IRIB TV reported.
According to the MEHR agency, the cause of the accident may have been bad weather conditions. There was rain and dense fog in the area.
Raisi was returning with a motorcade of three helicopters from the opening of a dam wall, which was attended by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. It took place in the province of East Azerbaijan, located in western Iran. The remaining two helicopters in the motorcade landed in Tabriz as planned. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdolakhian was also in Raisi's helicopter, Iranian media reported.
In the meantime, Iraq has offered help in the search operations after the accident with the helicopter of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Reuters reported, citing BTA, referring to a statement from the Iraqi government. The Ministry of Interior, the Red Crescent and other relevant authorities have been instructed by the Iraqi Cabinet to assist.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said he was praying for Raisi and said he was deeply shocked by the news of the helicopter accident, which happened shortly after the two leaders met to inaugurate a dam.
Aliev offered Iran all necessary help in the search operation.
Saudi Arabia has expressed its readiness to provide any assistance after the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed earlier today, Reuters reported. The Saudi Foreign Ministry also said the kingdom was following reports of the crash with "great concern," the Saudi state news agency reported.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring developments surrounding the incident with Raisi's helicopter, Reuters reported. "We hope that Iranian officials, including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, are safe and sound," the Turkish ministry said in a statement, which also expressed readiness to provide assistance. in the search operation.