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Indonesia conveys ‘deep concern’ over Iranian President's missing helicopter
Indonesia has joined other countries around the world in expressing concern over the fate of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other dignitaries who were traveling in a helicopter that went missing in northwest East Azerbaijan province.
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A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi takes off on May 19, 2024 from an area near the country’s border with Azerbaijan. The aircraft later “made a hard landing” in bad weather, according to state media. (IRNA/WANA/Handout/via Reuters/-)
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ndonesia expressed on Monday its “deep concern” over a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi that had gone missing, and said it was closely monitoring developments.
Contact was lost on Sunday with the aircraft, which was also carrying Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, in East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran, according to media reports.
“Indonesia is closely following, with deep concern, the reports of the incident involving the helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi, the foreign minister and accompanying delegates,” the Foreign Ministry said on Monday morning on X.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the people of Iran.”
Hopes were fading that Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian had survived the helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, after search teams located the aircraft’s wreckage.
Iran's state television IRIB also reported in a Monday broadcast that there was "no sign" of life among the helicopter’s passengers, AFP reported.
"Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet," said the IRIB.
The broadcaster initially reported on Sunday afternoon that "an accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president" in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province.
"The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site," said another broadcaster as the massive search effort continued through the night.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter "made a hard landing" in bad weather, and that it was "difficult to establish communication" with the aircraft.
Several countries have expressed concern over the incident and offered their assistance for the rescue operation.
The White House said United States President Joe Biden had been briefed about the accident, while the European Union offered its emergency satellite mapping technology, Reuters reported.
China, Iran’s largest trade partner and the top buyer of its sanctioned oil, said it was "deeply concerned" over the helicopter accident and pledged to "provide all necessary support and assistance", AFP reported.
Washington has repeatedly made public appeals for Beijing to use its influence over Tehran to manage tensions in the region, which have been heightened by the Hamas-Israel war. (ipa)
