Foreign Ministry: We will provide all kinds of support to Iran for search and rescue
In a statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated, "We are following the developments regarding the helicopter accident in Iran today (May 19) with sadness." In a statement made by AFAD, it was said, "Iran has requested a night-vision search and rescue helicopter from our country. 32 mountaineer search and rescue personnel and 6 vehicles have set off to reach the region."
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the accident involving the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other officials, stating, "Action has been taken to provide all kinds of support for search and rescue activities."
In a written statement from the ministry, it was noted that the developments regarding the helicopter accident in Iran are being followed with sadness.
"CONVEYED GET WELL SOON WISHES"
The statement conveyed wishes for the safety and well-being of the Iranian officials, including Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, and extended get-well wishes to the brotherly Iranian people.
The statement included the phrase, "Action has been taken to provide all kinds of support for search and rescue activities."
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Numan Kurtulmuş, in a message shared on his social media account, stated, "I learned with great sadness about the helicopter accident involving Iranian President Mr. Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation. I convey my get-well wishes to the friendly and brotherly Iranian people and government, and I hope to receive good news from Mr. Raisi and his delegation."
AFAD TEAMS SET OFF
The Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) stated that after the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had an accident, a night-vision search and rescue helicopter was requested from Turkey, adding, "32 mountaineer search and rescue personnel and 6 vehicles from our Van and Erzurum AFAD provincial directorates have set off to reach the region."
In the statement made by AFAD, it was noted that information was received that the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had an accident on the Iran-Nakhchivan border.
The statement, which reported that Iran requested a night-vision search and rescue helicopter from Turkey through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted the following:
"32 mountaineer search and rescue personnel and 6 vehicles from our Van and Erzurum AFAD provincial directorates have set off to reach the region. In addition, our mountaineer search and rescue personnel consisting of 15 people each from Ankara, Diyarbakır, and Konya are on alert. We are following the developments."
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) stated, "1 Akinci UAV and 1 Cougar-type helicopter with night-vision capability have been assigned to participate in the search and rescue activities for the Iranian President and his delegation's helicopter."
WHAT HAPPENED?
President Ebrahim Raisi had attended the opening ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border by helicopter today.
Iranian state television announced that the accident occurred when Raisi's helicopter made a hard landing while returning from the region; it was also announced that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Tabriz Friday Prayer Imam Ayatollah Ali Hashem were also on the helicopter.
Search and rescue teams report that operations are being carried out with difficulty due to adverse weather conditions.