Contradictions Arise Over Phone Activity During Raisi's Helicopter Crash

Mobile phones of people on board an Iranian helicopter that crashed earlier this week and killed President Ebrahim Raisi were ringing for hours, according to an Iranian minister. 

Following various statements from officials regarding the crash of the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, Mehrdad Bazarpash, the Minister of Roads in Raisi's government, said in a television interview, "Everyone's cell phones were ringing, but they were not answering."

It contrasts with former statements that the Tabriz Friday Prayer leader's phone was on, and he answered calls twice and spoke briefly.

Previously, Raisi's executive vice president, Mohsen Mansouri, also claimed that the two pilots had answered calls.

Bazarpash, who was in the front helicopter with several security guards, described the incident, saying, "At around 1:40 pm, we realized that we had lost the helicopter carrying Raisi.

"Everyone's cell phones were ringing, but they were not answering. After landing at the Sangun copper factory, we divided ourselves with the factory's workshop vehicles and began the search operation."

"We called the phones of the helicopter members, and some, like Mr. Amir Abdollahian's, Mr. governor's, and Mr. Al Hashem's, were ringing, but there was no answer, and we became worried," he said.

The Minister of Roads explained, "These calls continued until around 2:30 pm. At that time, contact was established with the country's space control center, allowing us to approximate the helicopter's position. However, we had not yet informed the rescuers and were still far away."

Bazarpash also cited "heavy rain and fog" as factors that slowed down the relief efforts.

At the funeral ceremony for Raisi and his companions, Bazarpash remarked, "Many people were seeking the one-term presidency martyrdom of Raisi, they are probably happy today."

Previously, Ali Rabiei, a minister in the Hassan Rouhani administration and a security figure in the Islamic Republic, commented on these contradictory statements, saying, "There are still many issues, such as technical problems and contradictory news, that require detailed expert discussions." 

In an article in the Eetmad newspaper, he emphasized, "Without a doubt, all aspects of this incident must be clearly stated."

Following the helicopter crash on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of Raisi and several others, judicial and security authorities, along with the police, threatened citizens that their reactions to this incident were being closely monitored.

Media activists and journalists in Iran told IranWire that security agencies have disrupted their lives with threatening calls to prevent the republishing of news related to Ebrahim Raisi's death.