ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif have voiced deep concerns about the wellbeing of the Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi whose helicopter encountered difficulties and was forced to make a hard landing in a mountainous region in northwestern Iran.
Along with President Ebrahim Raisi, the Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also on board the ill-fated helicopter which crashed upon landing in Varzaqan region on Sunday while they were returning from a Ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
Meanwhile, an extensive search and rescue operation is underway to locate the site of the incident. Harsh weather conditions and the region’s rugged terrain are hampering the rescue efforts.
Weather conditions during the rescue operation of the president’s helicopter pic.twitter.com/UOUrKo8CP8
— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) May 19, 2024
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei urged the Iranian nation to offer their prayers for the safety of the President Ebrahim Raeisi.
“We hope that the Almighty God returns the respected and esteemed President and his companions to the embrace of the nation,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
In a post on X handle, President Asif Ali Zardari said that he is deeply concerned to hear news about the helicopter incident carrying the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others.
The president expressed heartfelt prayers and good wishes for the wellbeing and safety of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said that he heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter and waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well.
The prime minister said that our prayers and best wishes are with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the entire Iranian nation.
Heard the distressing news from Iran regarding Hon. President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter. Waiting with great anxiety for good news that all is well. Our prayers and best wishes are with Hon.President Raisi and the entire Iranian nation.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 19, 2024
Just almost a month ago, President Ebrahim Raisi accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation undertook a three-day official visit to Pakistan from April 22-24, 2024 for a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts.
