Azerbaijan, Iraq offers help to search Iranian President Raisi’s helicopter

In this photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi takes off at the Iranian border with Azerbaijan.  (Photo| AP)Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday said his country could help with rescue efforts to find the helicopter of President Ebrahim Raisi, whose aircraft was reportedly involved in an accident.Iranian state television announced that “an accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in Iran’s western province of East Azerbaijan.Raisi visited the province on Sunday to inaugurate a dam on the border between the two countries, accompanied by Aliyev.”Today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran,” Aliyev said on social media.”The Republic of Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed,” he added.Iran’s neighbouring country Iraq has also offered help in search and rescue efforts. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani “instructed the interior ministry, the Iraqi Red Crescent and other relevant authorities to offer the Islamic Republic of Iran the available resources to aid in the search for the Iranian president’s aircraft,” government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement.Search and rescue team were headed to the remote mountain area, according to Iran’s state media. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also aboard the aircraft.State TV broadcast footage of an Iranian Red Crescent team walking up a slope in thick fog, as well as live footage of crowds of worshippers reciting prayers in the holy Shrine of Imam Reza in the city Mashhad, Raisi’s hometown.