This is the picture of the wreckage of the crashed helicopter broadcast by Iran's state television on May 20.
Iran's official media confirmed on the 20th that the helicopter taken by President Lech of Iran had an accident in the northwest mountain area of the country on the 19th, killing all the people on board, including Lech.
How did the accident happen? How did Iran respond at home and abroad? How does the President's death affect Iran's political situation?
How did the accident happen
According to Iranian media reports, Lech's helicopter made a "hard landing" in East Azerbaijan Province, northwest Iran, on the afternoon of the 19th. At the time of the incident, the president's helicopter team was going from Khoda Afalin County to Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan Province, to attend the inauguration ceremony of a petrochemical complex. It is reported that the incident occurred in a mountainous area with complex terrain. At that time, the weather was bad, foggy and cold, and visibility was low.
This is the search picture near the accident scene broadcast by Iranian state television on May 19.
Due to the weather and terrain constraints, the search and rescue work was difficult. The search and rescue team could only move forward from the ground. The precise location of the crash was not determined until the early morning of the 20th. Iranian media confirmed on the morning of the 20th that the wreckage of Lehi's helicopter had been found, and all the people on board, including Lehi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abdullahian, and the governor of East Azerbaijan Province Lakhmati, were killed.
This is the picture of rescue workers arriving at the scene of the accident, which was broadcast by Iranian state television on May 20.
On the 20th, Iranian media quoted the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society as saying that the bodies of the victims were being transported to Tabriz.
According to Iran's official media, the crash was a US made Bel-212 helicopter. So far, Iranian officials have not explained the cause of the accident. Some analysts said that weather, mechanical failure, etc. may be the cause of the accident. It is reported that there are three helicopters in President Leahy's helicopter team, and the other two have returned safely.
How does Iran respond at home and abroad
This is the picture of Lehi's helicopter flying in the air, which was broadcast by Iranian state television on May 19.
After the news of Lehi's helicopter accident came out, many people in Iran prayed for him.
It is reported that the Turkish military dispatched a UAV and a search and rescue helicopter with night vision capability on the evening of the 19th, and the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency dispatched 32 mountain search and rescue team members and 6 rescue vehicles; Russia has also announced to send two planes, a helicopter and 50 search and rescue personnel to assist Iraq.
On May 20, in Tehran, the capital of Iran, people mourned the victims of the helicopter crash.
After confirming Lehi's death, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Iran will mourn for five days. Khamenei said: "Under any circumstances, the order of the country will not be affected."
Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East expressed their condolences for the death of Leahy. Countries in other regions, as well as some international and regional organizations, also expressed condolences for the death of Leahy.
An Israeli official said on the 20th that Israel had nothing to do with the death of Lehi.
How to influence the political situation
This is the information photo of Ibrahim Leahy taken on August 5, 2021.
In June 2021, Leahy participated in the presidential election for the second time, won with nearly 62% of the votes, and was elected the 13th President of Iran.
The Iranian government issued a statement on the 20th saying that the government will continue to operate. According to Iranian media reports, the first vice president of Iran, Mukhber, will serve as president in the next 50 days until the special committee organizes a new presidential election. Ali Bageri Karni, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, was appointed Acting Foreign Minister.
Iran's Strategic Committee on Foreign Relations issued a statement on the 20th, praising Lehi and Abdullahian for their efforts in combating unjust sanctions, ensuring Iran's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other international multilateral mechanisms, expanding cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, supporting the Palestinian cause and improving Iran's relations with its neighbors.
Source Xinhua Vision
Editor Liu Sibo
Second instance Li Jie
Third instance Zhou Wenjun
