Staff Reports
President Joe Biden has been updated on the unfortunate helicopter crash that involved Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other high-ranking Iranian officials. While the crash has been widely reported, details remain scarce. The passengers’ conditions are not yet known, and the American administration has not been able to gather much additional information beyond what has been conveyed by state media.
Conflicting reports about the crash’s location have emerged, with Iranian state media initially announcing that the helicopter had been discovered, only to be contradicted by the Red Crescent, the organization leading search efforts in the area. While there have been indications from some on the flight that the crash may not have been fatal, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the incident.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on reports of the crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president, according to the White House. https://t.co/6dHxJ8n2CS
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) May 19, 2024
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has reported detecting signals from a crew member’s mobile phone, and efforts are underway to locate the crash site and provide updates to the public. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed hope for the safe return of the president and his companions and urged the Iranian people not to worry about any disruptions in the country’s affairs.
Several regional leaders, including Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have offered their prayers and well wishes for the recovery of the Iranian president and the other individuals involved in the crash. Additionally, countries such as Russia, Iraq, Turkey, and Armenia have extended assistance to Iran in the search efforts.
The European Commission has also mobilized its Copernicus Emergency Management Service to aid in the search, demonstrating the widespread concern and support for addressing this tragic event. As developments continue to unfold, efforts to locate the passengers and provide updates on their well-being remain ongoing.
