Two Members Of President Raisi's Group Reportedly Successfully Contacted With Rescue Team

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. (Wikimedia Commons/Fars Media Corporation/Mohammad Sadegh Nikgostar)

JAKARTA - Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri said two members of President Ebrahim Raisi's entourage had contacted the rescue team, saying it indicated the air incident involving their helicopters was not serious.

Mansouri said on Sunday President Raisi's helicopter and two other helicopters were on their way to Tabriz city, after the president and his Azerbaijanan counterpart inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi Dam on the border between the two countries.

After flying for half an hour, President Raisi's helicopter lost contact with two other helicopters, prompting them to conduct a search in the area, he said, quoted from IRNA, Monday, May 20.

Two members of the presidential entourage contacted the rescue team, saying it showed the incident was not too severe, he added.

Another promising thing, continued Mansouri, is that the Ministry of Communication has been able to determine the location of the accident within a two-kilometer radius.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari, who was in one of the three helicopters carrying President Raisi's entourage, said the imam of Friday Prayers in Tabriz had called the president from inside the helicopter that crashed.

According to the IRNA correspondent, Safari revealed this in an interview about a helicopter crash after the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi Dam on the Aras River.

Earlier, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed to national TV that one of the presidential convoy helicopters had an emergency landing, announcing search and rescue efforts were underway to find President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter.

"Various rescue groups are moving towards the location, but due to fog and bad weather, it may take time to reach the area. The work is still under control," said Home Affairs Minister Vahidi.

"There has been contact with the assistants (presidents), but given the mountainous area and it is difficult to make contact, we hope the rescue team will reach the scene more quickly and provide us with more information," he added.

Local Iranian media reported heavy rains in areas in Varzaghan District, making it difficult for rescue teams and searchers to walk in the middle of thick fog.

Home Affairs Minister Vahidi told state television that due to difficult weather conditions, it might take time for search and rescue teams to reach the crash site.

He hopes that the team will soon reach the location and convey more information.