Iranian President's Helicopter Crashes, Search Launched
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi experienced a hard landing due to adverse weather conditions in the Jofa region, near the city of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan. The incident occurred shortly after President Raisi returned from the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi Khodaafarin dams on the border with Azerbaijan. Alongside President Raisi, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other local officials were reported to be on board.
The challenging weather has impeded the rescue efforts, with fog complicating the search for the helicopter. While two other helicopters in the convoy landed safely, the conditions of those aboard the affected aircraft are not yet clear. Iranian authorities, including the Supreme National Security Council, are responding to the situation, with emergency teams dispatched to the mountainous forest area of Dizmar near Varzaghan where the accident took place.
In a separate event, President Joe Biden is slated to give the commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta. This engagement will be President Biden's first appearance before a historically Black audience since taking office, which comes at a time when his stance on international conflicts has sparked debate among some faculty and supporters of the college. The decision to invite Biden has led to dissent due to differing views on his administration's support for Israel amidst the conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza.
