President Raisi's Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing... Life Status Unconfirmed
The U.S. government stated on the 19th (local time) that it is closely monitoring the situation regarding reports that a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made an emergency landing and that his life status is being confirmed.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement expressing this position on the same day.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Biden received this report aboard Air Force One, his official aircraft.
According to local Iranian media and foreign news outlets, a helicopter carrying President Raisi and Iran's Foreign Minister made an emergency landing in East Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran on that day, and rescue teams are conducting extensive search operations. President Raisi's life status has not been confirmed. Although 16 rescue teams were dispatched, worsening weather conditions such as thick fog and severe weather are expected to delay the search and rescue efforts.
This incident occurred at a sensitive time when the U.S. and Iran have recently been engaging in behind-the-scenes contacts to ease tensions in the Middle East. According to U.S. media Axios, Brett McGurk, the White House Middle East advisor, and Abram Pealy, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, held talks on the 14th in Oman, the mediator country. The talks took place one month after Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Syria on the 1st of last month, and Iran launched its first-ever attack on Israeli mainland using missiles and suicide drones on the 13th of the same month.
Meanwhile, reports from various media outlets about President Raisi's status are conflicting and causing confusion. Iranian local media Mehr News Agency reported that the president switched to a car and was moving by land. However, the British Telegraph reported that President Raisi is missing.
Iran's state broadcaster reported only that the helicopter carrying President Raisi made a hard landing, without providing detailed information.
Iran's Fars News Agency appealed, "Let us pray for President Raisi."
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