Iran's president was involved in a helicopter crash, but details are still being investigated.

The news of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister crashing has caused a wave of shock throughout the region. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day and details are still scarce. It is uncertain if President Ebrahim Raisi and the other officials on board have survived.

According to reports from the state-run IRNA news agency, the helicopter was carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards. They were returning from a trip to the border with Azerbaijan, where they had been inaugurating a new dam with President Ilham Aliyev.

The exact location and cause of the crash are still unclear. The helicopter is believed to have either crashed or made an emergency landing in the Dizmar forest, situated between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azerbaijan province. Initial reports from Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi suggested that the bad weather and fog may have played a role in the incident.

The search and rescue efforts have been hindered by the mountainous and foggy terrain. Iranian officials have stated that the challenging weather conditions have made it difficult to conduct aerial searches using drones. Currently, 40 search teams are on the ground in the area, as confirmed by the president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Pir-Hossein Koulivand.

The potential loss of President Raisi in the crash could have significant implications for Iran. He is viewed as a potential successor to the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and plays a prominent role in the Shiite theocracy. If he were to pass away, the country's first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would assume the role of president. However, Ayatollah Khamenei has assured the public that there will be no disruption to the country's operations, should Raisi not survive the crash.

The international community has also expressed concern over the incident. Countries such as Russia, Iraq, and Qatar have offered to assist in the search operations. Azerbaijani President Aliyev has stated that he is deeply concerned and ready to provide support if needed. This is despite the strained relations between Azerbaijan and Iran due to Azerbaijan's diplomatic ties with Israel, Iran's regional rival. Even Saudi Arabia, a traditional rival of Iran, has expressed their support and offered their condolences.

As of now, there has been no official reaction from Israel, despite tensions between the two countries in recent months. In a previous incident, Israel launched an attack on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, resulting in the death of two Iranian generals. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel. However, tensions have since calmed down.

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