Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to send two planes and helicopters with a group of 50 rescuers to aid in the search for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter, which made a hard landing earlier, Russian Presidential Aide Igor Levitin said during a phone call with First Vice President of Iran Muhammad Mukhbar, TASS reports.
"Under Putin’s orders, two modern planes and several helicopters carrying 50 mountaineer rescuers will depart to Tabriz [in the northwestern part of Iran] within one hour," Levitin said, according to Tasnim.
Putin held a meeting, attended by top defense and security officials over the incident, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali told IRNA.
"At 10 p.m. the President of Russia, Mr. Putin held a meeting with participation of Russia’s top defense and security officials, which I attended as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Jalali said.
According to the envoy, the meeting was attended by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Chairman of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov, Presidential Aide Igor Levitin and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu.
Putin also asked Jalali to relay to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei that Moscow will do everything necessary to find the helicopter of Raisi.
"During the meeting, Putin said: ‘we are very concerned and saddened by this development. Make sure to relay my message to the Supreme Leader that we are ready to do everything necessary’," Jalali told IRNA.
According to the envoy, during the meeting, Putin announced that Moscow will send helicopters and "2 planes carrying the most experienced Russian specialists and mountaineers in full gear.".
