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.
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.
Reaction is pouring in from around the world, after reports of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim 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.
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.
The Republic of Azerbaijan tweeted their alarm over the news, and declared themselves a friendly nation of the Islamic Republic, willing to provide any necessary support.
The President of Azerbaijan, IIham Aliyev, posted on X, that he was “profoundly troubled by the news” and sent his “prayers” to Raisi and all involved. Raisi was returning to Iran from a visit to the Azerbaijani border where he met with Aliyev, and they cut the ribbon on a major dam along their shared border.
The official X account of the President of Pakistan also expressed their “heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raisi."
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted to X his deep concern over reports of the helicopter crash and said he prays for the Iranian president and his entourage.
The US State department reportedly told Margaret Brennan of CBS News that it has “no further comment at this time.”
While government loyalists expressed prayers and hopes for Raisi’s well-being, people against the Islamic Republic expressed joy at the unconfirmed news of his potential death.
Prominent human rights activist Masih Alinejad posted to X a video of the daughters of Minoo Majidi, a 62-year-old woman who was killed by the government security forces during the September 2022 Woman-Life-Freedom uprisings in Iran, as having a toast to the news.
Alinjead also declared today as "Happy World Helicopter Day," and wrote that "this is the only crash in history where everyone is worried if someone survived."
Many social media users critical of the Iranian regime, posted videos of fireworks in Iran, reportedly celebrating the news.
Human rights advocate Nazanin Boniadi wrote that Iranians are celebrating this as “karmic justice,” as he was responsible for the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, and is widely known as the “butcher of Tehran.”
A popular anchor with Israeli media, Emily Schrader with Ynet news, tweeted that the incident involving Iran's President could lead to another massive uprising in Iran.
Iranian singer Amir-Hossein Maghsoudlou, known by his stage name Tataloo, has been handed multiple prison sentences after being extradited from Turkey.
The 36-year-old underground musician, once a vocal supporter of the regime who had been living in Istanbul since 2018, was extradited back to Iran by Turkish authorities in December last year and has since been held in detention.
The trial, which commenced in March, accused Tataloo of several offenses including promoting "prostitution," disseminating "propaganda" against the Islamic Republic, and other broadly defined charges of "obscene content."
According to a Sunday report by the Telegram channel Fararuz News Magazine, Tataloo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "encouraging people to corruption and debauchery," two years for "inviting people to gamble," and five years for "propaganda activities contrary to and disrupting the sacred law of Islam."
Additionally, Tataloo faced charges of "insulting the Prophet and the sanctities" in a criminal court in Tehran Province. He was acquitted of insulting the Prophet but received a three-year sentence for insulting the sanctities.
If the sentences are upheld upon appeal, the most severe punishment of 10 years in prison will be enforced.
Tataloo's attorney, Elham Rahimifar, criticized the sentences as “harsh” and reflective of the severe treatment her client has endured. She emphasized that the judgments are preliminary and subject to appeal.
Known for his distinctive tattoos and his fusion of rap, pop and R&B, Tataloo had previously found favor with conservative politicians looking to engage Iran’s young, progressive audience.
In 2017, he also participated in a televised meeting with the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi, who is now the President of Iran.
In a notable moment in 2015, as the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers was unraveling, Tataloo released a song in support of Iran's nuclear program.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter was reported missing earlier today amid dense fog, sparking a search and rescue operation that has extended into the night.
The ISNA news agency reported that based on unofficial sources some of the president's delegation have been killed, but official sources have yet to make any specific statements on the matter.
Two hardline news outlets claimed Raisi is alive and well, but later deleted the posts.
Other high profile members of the government on board include Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. "We remain hopeful, but the incoming details are profoundly disturbing," revealed an Iranian official in a statement to Reuters.
The incident occurred at around 15:30 local time shortly after Raisi’s visit to a border area for a high-profile dam inauguration.
Search teams have finally reached the purported region where the crash occured near Varzaqan in the Jolfa region of East Azarbaijan province, as confirmed by the official IRNA news agency. However, there is no news about reaching the actual crash site.
However, severe fog continues to thwart their efforts, complicating the desperate hunt for the helicopter which remains missing.
A fleet of eight ambulances was dispatched from Tabriz to aid in the emergency operation.
Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem, the Friday Prayer Leader of Tabriz, was also reported to be on board the flight.
The incident unfolded just after the presidential delegation had left Khodabandeh, heading to Tabriz to inaugurate a major petrochemical complex.
Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has rushed to Tabriz to oversee the rescue efforts. Meanwhile, the Red Crescent Society has issued warnings to locals to steer clear of the crash area to prevent interference with the ongoing operation.
Contradictory reports from state TV about the nature of the incident – whether a crash or an emergency landing – only add to the current confusion surrounding the president's whereabouts and condition.
This report is being updated…