Iraq offers assistance to Iran in search for president’s helicopter

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani offered assistance to Iran on Sunday following a helicopter crash involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, which reportedly made a "hard landing."

Sudani “has issued directives to the interior ministry, the Iraqi Red Crescent, and other relevant authorities to present all available resources to the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist in the search for the Iranian president's plane,” government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi said in a statement cited by the state news agency INA.

The helicopter carrying Raisi reportedly made a hard landing due to weather conditions while returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on the Azerbaijan border.

The Iranian Red Crescent previously announced that the "crash" occurred between Kaleybar and Varzaqan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi emphasized that rescue teams had not yet reached the area.

East Azerbaijan Deputy Governor Jabbarali Zakiri stated that two of the three helicopters in Raisi's convoy had landed, while one had crashed.

It was reported that the helicopter carrying Raisi included several officials, among them Amir-Abdollahian.