Iranian president, foreign minister killed in tragic helicopter crash

[webfact]

Iranian president, foreign minister killed in tragic helicopter crash
by Bob Scott 

 

Picture courtesy of The Indian Express

 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were tragically killed in a helicopter crash amidst mountainous terrain and icy weather, as reported by state media. The wreckage was located in East Azerbaijan province after search teams mobilized.

 

State TV initially provided no immediate cause for yesterday’s crash in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Among the casualties was 60 year old Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

 

Accompanying Raisi was the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials along with bodyguards, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency.

An Iranian official earlier informed Reuters that the helicopter was completely consumed by fire in the crash.

 

State TV footage from the site depicted the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, yet there was no official confirmation regarding the cause of the crash.

 

State news agency IRNA stated that Raisi was travelling in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Iran operates various helicopter models, however, international sanctions pose challenges in obtaining spare parts. Much of its military air fleet dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

 

Strict morality laws

 

The 63 year old Raisi assumed the presidency in 2021. During his tenure, he implemented stricter morality laws, oversaw a crackdown on anti-government protests, and played a significant role in nuclear negotiations with global powers.

 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate authority over foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, sought to reassure Iranians earlier, asserting that state affairs would continue without disruption.

 

Rescue teams battled blizzards and treacherous terrain overnight to reach the wreckage early Monday morning.

Previously, national broadcasting halted regular programming to broadcast prayers held for Raisi nationwide. In the early hours of today, May 20, it aired footage of rescue teams equipped with bright jackets and head torches scouring the dark mountainside amid a blizzard.

 

Several nations expressed concern and offered assistance in the rescue efforts. The White House confirmed US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the crash. China expressed deep concern, while the European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.

 

The crash occurred amidst growing dissent in Iran over political, social, and economic challenges.

 

International pressure mounts over Iran’s disputed nuclear program and its deepening military cooperation with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine.

 

Clerical establishment

 

Within Iran’s political system, divided between the clerical establishment and the government, Raisi’s 85 year old mentor Khamenei holds decisive power over major policies.

 

For years, Raisi has been viewed as a potential successor to Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi’s key policies.

 

Raisi’s victory in the 2021 election consolidated power among hardliners, following eight years of a presidency held by pragmatist Hassan Rowhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with global powers, including Washington.

 

However, Raisi’s stature may have suffered due to widespread protests against clerical rule and challenges in revitalizing Iran’s economy amidst Western sanctions.

 

Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev bid a “friendly farewell” to Raisi earlier in the day and offered assistance in the rescue efforts, reported South China Morning Post.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-05-20

 

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[Neeranam]

Where was Netanyahu at the time? 

[koolkarl]

What goes around, comes around.

[spidermike007]

And the entire world mourns with great sympathy. Just think of all the good deeds this guy has done for the planet and the region. He was a saint.

 

Where do I send the flowers to? 

[wombat]

Well that's thrown a cat amongst the pigeons.

Personally I say good riddance...any leader who allows a female to be killed because

she wasn't wearing a head scarf is not a leader.

Allah must have thought so as well.

 

[John Drake]

Suspicious, if you ask me.

 

[jvs]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Suspicious, if you ask me.

 

No not that,flying a helicopter in the mountains in thick fog?

Just stupid.

[thaibeachlovers]

Big news on Al Jazeera. Apparently the helo is 45 years old and spare parts are hard to find because of sanctions.

I know it's tempting to think israel did it, but more likely a mechanical or pilot failure IMO.

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

State TV footage from the site depicted the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak,

State TV initially reported it as "....a heavy landing". It certainly was!

[impulse]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Big news on Al Jazeera. Apparently the helo is 45 years old and spare parts are hard to find because of sanctions.

I know it's tempting to think israel did it, but more likely a mechanical or pilot failure IMO.

 

Still...  I read that it took rescuers 15 hours to find the wreckage because of the fog.  I'm not suggesting it happened that way, but someone with better tech and stealth could have gotten a lot done in 15 hours.   

 

I also read that there was communication (cellular?) with one of the passengers after the "hard landing".  The next few days of spin and counter-spin is gonna be interesting.  I hope it doesn't spin out of control.

 

[Hummin]

Most likely weather and pilot error, and just to make it a little bit more conspicuous for conspirators, gps jamming/spoofing in the area during this flight.

 

Israel is known to use it frequently 

[rudi49jr]

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Hope the souls of all the people he helped kill will torture him until hell freezes over. Pity that the next POS is already chomping at the bit to take his place and continue with the mindless terrorism. 

[Burma Bill]

Whatever, good riddance to a promoter and supporter of terrorism!

[riclag]

Calm heads will prevail ?

biden will probably ask for flags to be lowered  to half mast in remembrance 

to his distinguished diplomat , who govt sponsors terrorism and terror proxies.

In the meantime Khamenei who is evil  , has the bully pulpit!

[Robert Paulson]

Gee. Let me take a wild guess as to who did this. Let’s see here:

who likes to kill basically anyone they can

who wants to raise tension between the usa and iran

who is a sociopathic know liar and mass murderer

who just bombed their embassy
 

it’s just such a tough one to figure 

[coolcarer]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Where was Netanyahu at the time? 

In your head. It’s called obsession. 

[coolcarer]

Great news. His sidekick also needs a nice accident

[Nickcage49]

Yeah, tragic...

[newbee2022]

3 helis.

And just the one with the President crashed?

😳

[Hummin]

Iran blaime Us Sanctions for the accident.

 

Latest news in Norway

[ChipButty]

They reckon the pilot was a Mossad agent, 

[Denim]

I'm not hearing any Allah Akbars on AlJazeera news. 

[Neeranam]

Some rather negative comments about a country that is generally peace loving. I find it funny when an American, for example, thinks Iran is evil. Iran has not started any war in the last say 100 years, compared to the US who have started many and one for a  made up reason, yet the Muslims are the bad guys.... 

 

[transam]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Big news on Al Jazeera. Apparently the helo is 45 years old and spare parts are hard to find because of sanctions.

I know it's tempting to think israel did it, but more likely a mechanical or pilot failure IMO.

Noooooooooo, whoda guessed...............

[Yagoda]

The question for folks who can see the world without their antisemitic goggles is, who is the primary beneficiary of this accident. Hint: Muslim but not Arab or Persian.

 

 

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

They reckon the pilot was a Mossad agent, 

Mossad doesnt do suicide missions. He wasnt on that chopper.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Some rather negative comments about a country that is generally peace loving. I find it funny when an American, for example, thinks Iran is evil. Iran has not started any war in the last say 100 years, compared to the US who have started many and one for a  made up reason, yet the Muslims are the bad guys.... 

 

Oh, do be quiet, you haven't a clue....................

[Wobblybob]

11 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Iran blaime Us Sanctions for the accident.

 

Latest news in Norway

And they say that sanctions don't work, they've hit the jackpot with this one if true.

[Purdey]

Isn't it funny that when a national calamity hits Iran, they don't suspect that Allah punished the people who died? 

Suddenly, it is about technical errors or bad weather. 

 

[transam]

18 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Iran blaime Us Sanctions for the accident.

 

Latest news in Norway

How can they blame sanctions, they don't know the cause yet.  🙄

 

Plus, they could get a brand new helicopter from their friends in Russia if they are concerned about wig-wigs safety........