Helicopter carrying President Raeisi makes ‘hard landing’ in northwestern Iran

Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has confirmed that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raeisi makes a hard landing in the city of Jolfa in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter was transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and several other passengers when it encountered difficulties and was forced to make a “hard landing” in Jolfa, a city bordering the nation of Azerbaijan.

Authorities said bad weather conditions have made it difficult for rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent Society to reach the area where the incident happened.

Drone units are also assisting with the emergency operation.

Two other helicopters carrying a number of ministers and officials reached the destination safely.

President Raeisi had been in Azerbaijan early in the day to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

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