Italy says monitoring situation after chopper crash in Iran

Reaction is pouring in from around the world, after reports of a helicopter carrying Raisi crashing near Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.

With Raisi’s fate unknown, world leaders, opponents of the Islamic Republic as well as its apologists are rampant with posts on social media.

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Upon Iran's request, Turkey has sent an Akıncı drone and a night vision Cougar-type helicopter to participate in the search and rescue efforts aimed at finding the doomed helicopter of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, @tcsavunma announced.

Turkey’s Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) also said in a statement, "Iran requested a night vision search and rescue helicopter from our country. Thirty-two mountaineer search and rescue personnel and six vehicles from our Van and Erzurum AFAD provincial directorates have set out to arrive at the region," it added.

"Additionally, our mountaineer search and rescue personnel, consisting of 15 people each from Ankara, Diyarbakir, and Konya, are on alert. We are following the developments," concluded AFAD.

The possible location of the helicopter incident has been identified after hours of searching, the Red Crescent Society announced, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

"Minutes ago, signals were received from the chopper and the cell phone of one of its crew members, and all our forces are now on our way to the location," said the IRGC commander of East Azarbaijan province.

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Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted their concerns for Raisi and other Iranian officials on that flight and reaffirmed their commitment as a close ally of Iran.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he was saddened by the accident involving the helicopter of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, and that Turkey was in full contact with the Iranian authorities, ready to provide any necessary support.

"I convey my best wishes to our neighbor, friend and brother Iranian people and government, and I hope to receive good news from Mr. Raisi and his delegation as soon as possible," Erdogan said in a post on social media platform X.

Turkish Foreign Ministry also said in a Sunday statement, "We are following the developments regarding the helicopter crash in Iran today with sadness. We hope that Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, are safe and healthy."

The ministry also affirmed Ankara’s commitment to providing support for search and rescue operations.