Thousands of Iranians pray for Raisi’s safe return after crash, others set off fireworks

Iranians pray for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Valiasr Square in central Tehran on May 19, 2024. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP)
Iranians pray for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Valiasr Square in central Tehran on May 19, 2024. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP)

Iranians are glued to TV screens and their smartphones for updates on the fate of President Ebrahim Raisi after state media reported that his helicopter had crashed on the way to Tehran from Azerbaijan earlier today.

As thousands of Muslim faithful pray for his safe return in mosques nationwide — including amid the minarets of 63-year-old Raisi’s hometown, the shrine city of Mashhad — posts on social media say opponents of the Iranian regime are celebrating.

Posts on social media purport to show fireworks being set off after the news of the crash.

The national broadcaster stops all its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country and, in a corner of the screen, plays live coverage of rescue teams deployed on foot in the mountainous area in heavy fog, using dogs and drones to try to locate the crash site.

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