UPDATE 3 - US monitoring developments on Iranian president's helicopter crash

ADDS REMARKS FROM QATAR, KUWAIT, OIC, CHANGES DECK

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US announced Sunday that is closely monitoring developments after a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reportedly made a "hard landing."

"We are closely following reports of a possible hard landing of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister. We have no further comment at this time," said a spokesperson for the US State Department.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed grave concern over the emergency landing of the helicopter, which was carrying Raisi and his delegation.

"Today, after meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, we were seriously worried by the news that the helicopter carrying the high delegation made an emergency landing in Iran. Our prayers to Almighty God are with President Ibrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation. As a neighboring friendly and brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan is ready to provide all kinds of support," said Aliyev on X.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement.

“The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern what was circulated in the media regarding the helicopter carrying His Excellency Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the delegation accompanying the President.

“At a time when we call upon God Almighty to protect His Excellency and his companions and surround them with his care, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms that it stands by the Islamic Republic of Iran during these difficult circumstances and is prepared to provide any assistance the Iranian services need,” it said.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, citing its official spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, issued a statement expressing “the State of Qatar’s grave concern after a helicopter carrying HE President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a number of other officials suffered a hard landing accident in the Dizmar forests in East Azerbaijan Province, northwest of the country.”

He also expressed his country’s “wishes for the safety of HE the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and those accompanying them,” announcing Qatar’s “full readiness to provide all forms of support in the search process.”

Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country is closely monitoring with concern reports regarding the Iranian helicopter incident, expressing “best wishes for the safety of the Iranian President and his accompanying delegation.”

It also affirmed its support for Iran in this “delicate circumstance.”

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said in a statement that its General Secretariat is closely following the news regarding the Iranian president’s helicopter.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said the OIC “is standing by the Islamic Republic of Iran in this difficult circumstance, praying to Allah Almighty to include under His care and protection the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and his accompanying delegation.”

Countries such as Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka also issued statements in support of Iran after Sunday's helicopter accident.

- Helicopter crash in Iran

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

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

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

The helicopter was reportedly carrying Raisi and several officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

*Rabia Iclal Turan and Rania Abu Shamala contributed to this story