This Video Predates The Recent Helicopter Incident Involving The Iranian President
The Claim
Video footage shows Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi on board the helicopter shortly before it made a hard landing in mountainous terrain due to foggy conditions in East Azerbaijan province.
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Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating a video clip claiming to depict the moment when Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi boarded a helicopter that made a hard landing in mountainous terrain due to foggy conditions in East Azerbaijan province.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
Raisi's January 2024 Visit To Namrood Dam
Misbar's team found that the video dates back to January 2024, during Raisi's visit to the National Project of Namrood Dam.
According to the Public Relations Office of Khatam al-Anbia Construction Base, Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi visited the National Project of Namrood Dam upon his arrival in Firoozkooh, accompanied by the Minister of Energy, the Governor of Tehran, and the Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Construction Site. During the visit, President Raisi was briefed on the latest progress of the dam project. The Namrood Dam, a reservoir whose construction began in 2005, is located 18 km southwest of Firoozkooh city and two kilometers below the village of Saleh Bon.
Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Raisi Crashes In Northwest Iran
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, and other officials reportedly crashed in the mountainous northwest of Iran on Sunday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation in a foggy forest as the public was urged to pray.
The crash occurred as Iran, under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel and enriched uranium to levels closer than ever to weapons-grade. Iran has also been experiencing years of mass protests over economic issues and women's rights, adding to the sensitivity of the situation amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV reported a "hard landing" near Jolfa, a city on the Azerbaijan border, about 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Later reports placed the incident farther east near the village of Uzi, but details remained unclear.
Traveling with Raisi were Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. While one local official described it as a "crash," others mentioned a "hard landing" or an "incident." Neither IRNA nor state TV provided updates on Raisi's condition immediately following the crash. Hard-liners urged the public to pray for him, and state TV showed images of people praying at Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad and other locations across the country.
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