Iran President Ebrahim Raisi Helicopter Crash: How Khamenei, PM Modi, World Leaders Reacted

Last Updated: May 19, 2024, 23:38 IST

Iran

A helicopter in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was travelling crashed on Sunday. (Image via Uzbekistan’s President Press Office via AP)

The lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”, which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest, Iranian officials said

A chopper carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed on Sunday while crossing mountainous terrain in heavy fog, news agency Reuters reported citing Iranian state television. World leaders reacted to Ebrahim Raisi’s chopper crash and prayed for his safety.

Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has reportedly called an emergency meeting with the National Security Council. The lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”, which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest, Iranian officials said.

World Leaders React To Ebrahim Raisi’s Chopper CrashPrime Minister Narendra Modi said in an X post, “Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress and pray for well well-being of the President and his entourage.US President Biden cut short his vacation and returned to the White House for an emergency meeting following the Iranian president’s helicopter accident. US officials believe that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been assassinated.Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei issued the first statement since Iranian President Raisi’s helicopter went missing after a “hard landing”. “We hope that God will return the president to the arms of the nation,” he said.“Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran. Our prayers to Allah Almighty are with President Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbour, friend, and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed,” the President of Azerbaijan said in an X post.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyed Ibrahim Raisi’s helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation.”Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered Iran ‘all necessary support’ over Raisi’s helicopter incident.Saudi Arabia voiced “great concern” after Iranian state media reported that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi had gone missing.“We affirm that the Kingdom stands by the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran in these difficult circumstances and its readiness to provide any assistance that the Iranian agencies need,” the foreign ministry of the Gulf kingdom, a longtime rival of Iran, said in a statement.