Iran's president helicopter crash: Iranian President Raisi missing | LiveNOW from FOX

LiveNOW from FOX
19 May 202410:17

Summary

TLDRIn a breaking news update, a helicopter crash on the Iranian border has raised concerns for the lives of the Iranian President and Foreign Minister, both on board. The incident has sparked fears and speculations about potential foul play, given the President's nickname as 'The Butcher of Tehran' and Iran's tense geopolitical landscape. While the power dynamics in Iran are complex with the Supreme Leader holding significant sway, the potential loss of the President, who was seen as a possible successor, could have significant implications. As details remain scarce, the situation is under investigation, with the possibility of this event impacting Iran's role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Takeaways

  • 🚁 A helicopter crash occurred on the Iranian border, carrying the Iranian president, foreign minister, and other officials.
  • πŸ” An official statement mentioned that both the president and foreign minister were at risk, but information from the crash site was concerning.
  • πŸ€” There is uncertainty about the survival of the Iranian president and foreign minister due to the crash.
  • πŸ‘€ The Iranian president was being groomed as a possible successor to the supreme leader of Iran, who is 85 and not in the best of health.
  • πŸ’₯ The potential death of the president could have significant impacts, especially considering his role as a hardliner in Iran's government.
  • πŸ™ The situation is still developing, with the hope for more clarity within the next 24 hours.
  • πŸ•ŠοΈ The crash could be seen as a sign of incompetence by the Iranian government, which claims divine support and legitimacy based on religious beliefs.
  • 🌐 The incident might affect Iran's role and strategy in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as Iran has been growing bolder in its attacks.
  • πŸ•ŠοΈ There is speculation about the possibility of an assassination attempt, given the history of political murders and power struggles within Iran.
  • πŸ‘€ The lack of immediate confirmation on the president and foreign minister's condition raises suspicions and doubts about the regime's transparency and competence.
  • πŸ—£οΈ The state media's reporting on the incident may not be entirely accurate or transparent, leading to further uncertainty and potential conspiracy theories.

Q & A

  • What is the main event being reported in the video script?

    -The main event being reported is a helicopter crash on the Iranian border, which was carrying the Iranian president, the foreign minister, and other officials.

  • What is the current status of the Iranian president and foreign minister according to the script?

    -The script does not confirm their status, but it mentions that both their lives were at risk following the crash, and the information from the crash site is very concerning.

  • Who is Michael Xantos and what is his role in the discussion?

    -Michael Xantos is a foreign policy expert who was brought in to discuss and provide insights on the breaking news of the helicopter crash involving Iranian officials.

  • What is the significance of the Iranian president's potential as a successor to the supreme leader of Iran?

    -The Iranian president was being groomed as a possible successor to the current supreme leader, who is 85 and not in good health, making his potential loss significant for the country's leadership dynamics.

  • What impact could the death of the Iranian president have on the country?

    -The death of the Iranian president could be significant, potentially leading to a power consolidation among hardliners in Iran and discrediting the regime, especially considering the president's religious claims to legitimacy.

  • What is the role of the supreme leader and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iran's power structure?

    -The supreme leader and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard hold substantial power in Iran, often overshadowing the president and other government officials.

  • What are the potential implications of the helicopter crash for Iran's government and its religious claims?

    -The crash could discredit the government's claims of divine legitimacy and religious superiority, as it exposes a vulnerability in protecting its leaders, which contradicts their narrative that God is on their side.

  • What is the current state of Iran's infrastructure and economy as mentioned in the script?

    -The script mentions that Iran is struggling with infrastructure issues, such as lack of water and electricity, and economic challenges, like high inflation and the inability of the average Iranian to afford basic necessities like gasoline and food.

  • What are the possible suspicions or conspiracy theories that could arise from the crash?

    -There could be suspicions of foul play or an assassination attempt, especially given the history of political murders and the current power struggles within Iran's regime.

  • How might the crash impact Iran's role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas?

    -The crash could potentially discredit Iran's bold stance and proxy warfare strategy, as it highlights the regime's inability to protect its own leaders, which might raise internal and external doubts about its capabilities.

  • What is the significance of the statement that only one of the three helicopters in the group came down?

    -The fact that only one helicopter out of three came down raises questions about who was on that particular helicopter and whether it was carrying the president and foreign minister, adding to the uncertainty and speculation surrounding the incident.

Outlines

00:00

🚁 Helicopter Crash Involving Iranian President and Minister

The video script discusses a breaking news event where a helicopter crash on the Iranian border has occurred, carrying the Iranian president, foreign minister, and other officials. The situation is tense as an official has stated that both the president and foreign minister's lives are at risk, with information from the crash site being very concerning. The script introduces Michael Xantos, a foreign policy expert, to provide insights into the potential implications of this incident. Xantos highlights that the Iranian president was a possible successor to the aging supreme leader, and the crash could lead to a power consolidation among hardliners in Iran. The discussion also touches on the potential for the event to be perceived as a sign of incompetence by the regime, which claims divine legitimacy and is facing domestic issues such as water shortages and economic struggles. The lack of transparency from state-run media and the possibility of the crash being an assassination attempt are also considered.

05:01

πŸ” Speculations and Implications of the Crash on Iran's Role in Regional Conflicts

This paragraph delves into the speculation surrounding the helicopter crash, with the possibility of foul play or an assassination attempt being raised, especially given the president's nickname as 'The Butcher of Tehran' and his history of overseeing numerous executions. The script mentions a report from Reuters that only one of three helicopters in a group had crashed, and authorities were awaiting details. The video footage showed foggy conditions, which could have contributed to the crash. The discussion also considers the potential impact on Iran's strategy in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, suggesting that the crash could be seen as a sign of weakness and might affect Iran's use of proxies in attacks. The script speculates on the potential for blame to be placed on internal regime struggles or external actors like Israel. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the Iranian people's sentiments towards their government and the potential for this incident to further discredit the regime in their eyes.

10:01

πŸ“’ Expert Analysis on Iran's Political Landscape Post-Crash

In the final paragraph, foreign policy expert Michael Xantos continues his analysis, discussing the potential impact of the helicopter crash on Iran's political landscape. He emphasizes the significance of the event, given the Iranian president's role as a potential successor to the supreme leader. Xantos also addresses the regime's portrayal of itself as divinely guided and the potential for this incident to further discredit the government in the eyes of the Iranian people. The conversation concludes with Xantos expressing his willingness to provide further insights as more information becomes available, and the host thanks him for his expert analysis on this breaking news story.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Helicopter Crash

A helicopter crash refers to an accident involving a helicopter that results in damage or loss. In the context of the video, it is a central event as it involves the Iranian president, his foreign minister, and other officials, creating a sense of urgency and concern. The script mentions 'helicopter crash' repeatedly, indicating its significance to the unfolding news story.

πŸ’‘Iranian President

The Iranian President is the head of state in Iran, elected to a four-year term with the possibility of serving two consecutive terms. The video script discusses the potential implications of the president's life being at risk due to the helicopter crash, emphasizing the political and leadership vacuum that could occur if he were to die.

πŸ’‘Foreign Minister

The Foreign Minister is a key government official responsible for representing their country in diplomatic matters. In the script, the Iranian Foreign Minister's life is also mentioned to be at risk, suggesting the severity of the crash and its potential impact on Iran's diplomatic relations.

πŸ’‘Supreme Leader

The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest-ranking political and religious authority in the country. The script alludes to the Iranian president being groomed as a possible successor to the aging Supreme Leader, indicating the potential political upheaval that could result from the crash.

πŸ’‘Hardliner

A hardliner refers to a person who holds uncompromisingly strict or conservative views, often in politics. The video mentions the Iranian president as a hardliner, suggesting that his potential death could impact the balance of power within Iran, particularly among hardliners and more moderate factions.

πŸ’‘Religious Legitimacy

Religious legitimacy is the perceived right to govern based on religious beliefs or divine authority. The script discusses how the Iranian government claims legitimacy through religious beliefs, and the potential discrediting effect of the crash on this claim, as it challenges the narrative that 'God is on their side'.

πŸ’‘Incompetence

Incompetence refers to a lack of ability or skill to perform a task successfully. The video script suggests that the inability to protect the country's leaders could be seen as a sign of incompetence, which could undermine public confidence in the government.

πŸ’‘State-Run Media

State-run media refers to news outlets that are controlled or heavily influenced by the government. The script mentions state-run media in the context of transparency and the dissemination of information about the crash, highlighting the potential for state control over the narrative.

πŸ’‘Assassination

Assassination is the act of deliberately killing a high-profile individual, often for political reasons. The script raises the possibility of the helicopter crash being an assassination attempt, adding a layer of intrigue and suspicion to the event.

πŸ’‘Butcher of Tehran

The Butcher of Tehran is a nickname given to the Iranian president in the script, referring to his past involvement in a large number of executions. This nickname is used to emphasize the controversial and violent nature of his leadership, and the potential for unrest or suspicion following his death.

πŸ’‘Proxy Wars

Proxy wars are conflicts in which two states or non-state actors confront each other indirectly, often by supporting opposing sides in a third-party conflict. The script mentions Iran's use of proxies in its conflict with Israel, suggesting that the crash could impact Iran's strategy in ongoing regional conflicts.

Highlights

A helicopter crash has occurred near the Iranian border involving the Iranian president, foreign minister, and other officials.

Reports suggest that the lives of the Iranian president and foreign minister are at risk following the crash.

The Iranian president was considered a potential successor to the current supreme leader of Iran.

The crash could have significant impacts, including the consolidation of power among hardliners in Iran.

The incident could be seen as a sign of incompetence by the Iranian government.

The Iranian regime's legitimacy, which is often based on religious claims, could be discredited by this event.

The inability to protect their leaders reflects poorly on the Iranian government's competence.

The Iranian regime is facing internal struggles and a potential succession crisis.

There is a possibility, however remote, that the crash could have been an assassination attempt.

The Iranian president's nickname, 'The Butcher of Tehran,' could influence public perception of the incident.

State-run media's transparency regarding the incident is in question, and details may be scarce.

Suspicions of foul play are likely to arise in such a paranoid political environment.

Only one of three helicopters in the convoy came down hard, raising questions about who was on board.

Foggy conditions at the crash site may have contributed to the incident.

The Iranian regime's role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas could be impacted by this event.

Iran's recent bold attacks against Israel have not been as effective as intended, leading to questions about their strategy.

The incident could raise further doubts about the Iranian regime's ability to govern effectively.

Transcripts

00:04

live now from Fox and once

00:06

again we do want to show

00:07

you some. video from the

00:10

Iranian border with Asher

00:11

by Gene as the search is

00:13

now. underway following a

00:15

helicopter crash. the

00:17

helicopter. carrying the

00:19

Iranian president as well as

00:20

his foreign minister and

00:22

other officials and again,

00:24

we are continuing to

00:26

follow this uh an

00:27

official saying that both

00:29

the lives of the Iranian

00:31

president and his foreign

00:33

minister were quote at

00:35

risk following the

00:36

helicopter crash saying

00:37

quote we are still hopeful

00:38

but information coming from

00:40

the crash site is very

00:43

concerning. Uh, we do want

00:44

to bring in Michael

00:46

xantos, who is a foreign

00:48

policy expert to talk

00:49

more about this breaking

00:50

news and Michael. Thank you

00:51

so much for joining us.

00:54

You're very welcome. and

00:55

again. the information is

00:57

still very. scarce as this

00:59

is a breaking news

01:00

situation. but what can you

01:02

share with us? well it is

01:06

obviously clearly. in doubt

01:07

whether the running president

01:09

and the foreign minister is

01:10

still alive. and it's very

01:13

easy to dismiss it because

01:14

it's often pointed out that

01:15

the power is really in the

01:17

hands of the supreme leader

01:19

of Iran How many and the

01:21

Iranian revolutionary guard

01:22

and other Security Forces?

01:23

but he was being groomed as

01:25

a possible successor for the

01:27

supreme leader of Iran.

01:28

That is the ultimate

01:29

leader of Iran. who is 85

01:31

and that necessarily in

01:32

good health. And so there's

01:34

a variety of potential

01:35

effects of this but

01:36

1 of them being that he was

01:38

a possible successor to the

01:40

current supreme leader

01:41

of Iran. so again

01:44

leader of Iran

01:45

so again details are very

01:45

scarce and we were hearing

01:46

from an anonymous official

01:48

saying that uh, the

01:50

president's life was. uh

01:51

at risk along with the

01:53

foreign minister. Uh, but not

01:55

uh going beyond that. if

01:57

it were the case that the

02:00

Iranian president. was

02:02

killed in this helicopter

02:04

crash What would the impact

02:06

of that be? I think it

02:09

could actually be

02:09

significant. in some less

02:11

than obvious ways. He was

02:14

in himself a very much a

02:16

hardliner. So you see the

02:17

hardliners. the extreme.

02:19

hardliners in Iran,

02:20

unfortunately.

02:21

consolidating. power, but

02:23

especially in the

02:24

government that tries to

02:26

take the name of God and say

02:28

that that it's divine.

02:30

wishes that they're acting

02:32

on it and that they're

02:33

serving. Um, God behind it.

02:35

I think this is

02:36

discrediting because even

02:37

in a government that is

02:39

not extremely religious. and

02:41

fanatic. Um, when you can't

02:43

protect your leaders it can

02:45

happen unfortunately and

02:46

it's scary to the best

02:47

country God forbid even

02:49

ours. that um, you know,

02:51

people do die in plain

02:53

and helicopter crashes, but

02:54

it could be seen by the

02:56

running people. as 1 more

02:58

sign of incompetence. It

03:00

doesn't exactly go along

03:01

with the movie saying that

03:03

God is on their side and

03:05

that the US and Israel are

03:07

Infidel, so I think it is

03:10

actually discrediting it

03:11

might sound a little bit

03:11

silly to say but they are.

03:12

constantly. and only

03:14

speaking in religion. their

03:16

leadership only claims

03:17

legitimacy.

03:19

sounds bizarre in today's

03:19

world. 20 Century. based on

03:21

religion alone. and they

03:23

claim that they they will

03:25

win because of their

03:26

religious beliefs and that

03:28

the United States and the

03:29

West is evil. So I think

03:30

it's discrediting and and

03:32

then the less kind of

03:34

theoretical concept it it

03:35

doesn't reflect the

03:36

competence of this country

03:38

this government I mean the

03:40

system that is running out

03:42

of water. it is can't keep

03:44

things. cool as they have

03:45

hotter and hotter Summers

03:46

they barely have

03:47

electricity. They're 1 of

03:48

the largest producers of

03:50

oil. and natural gas and the

03:52

average Iranian can't afford.

03:54

gasoline and is struggling

03:55

to buy food. crashed is is

04:00

discrediting and makes

04:01

people. the doubts in this

04:03

regime. grow within the

04:04

country. and again this

04:07

information coming from the

04:09

state-run media when it

04:10

comes to being transparent.

04:13

uh, you know, when might we

04:15

expect additional details

04:16

and just how accurate might

04:18

they be. I mean, it's hard

04:21

to say but I mean you can't

04:22

cover up the if they did

04:24

in fact die, I mean it's

04:25

good that we're being

04:26

careful about it. You can't

04:27

cover up the

04:28

death of the president

04:29

and foreign minister, it's

04:30

good that you know in the

04:31

next 24 hours. cover up

04:32

the death of the president

04:34

and foreign minister. I think

04:36

that you know in the next

04:38

24 hours is probably much

04:41

less will start to gain

04:42

Clarity. They they

04:44

can't hide this. Um now

04:44

it's worth mentioning

04:45

another high-ranking

04:46

official of Iran back in

04:46

2017 Raph and suspicions

04:49

were raised about following

04:50

and the fingers by his own

04:52

family seemed to

04:54

be pointing at the regime

04:54

itself. So there's even a

04:56

possibility somewhat remote,

04:58

but not far-fetched that

05:00

this could have been some

05:01

sort of assassination.

05:03

itself. So there's even a

05:04

possibility somewhat remote

05:06

but not far-fetched that

05:06

this could have been some

05:08

sort of assassination attempt

05:09

if they survived or

05:11

assassination they die.

05:11

There could even be an

05:13

element of Foul Play There

05:16

are definitely going to be

05:18

suspicions some legitimate

05:19

and some crazy in

05:20

in such a paranoid country

05:21

because they have a murderous

05:22

government. Remember this

05:22

president had the nickname of

05:23

the butcher. of Tehran for

05:23

the number probably in the

05:24

thousands of executions he

05:25

oversaw at the end of the

05:27

1980s. He's he was known

05:29

or still is known as The

05:30

Butcher of Taiwan. This is

05:31

so in that kind of

05:32

environment. There's all

05:33

kinds of suspicions that

05:35

inevitably occur some well

05:36

based and some unfounded.

05:38

now according to reuter

05:40

they're uh quoting the

05:41

interior Minister saying

05:43

that the state TV that

05:44

only 1 of the helicopters

05:46

in a group of 3. had come

05:49

down hard and that

05:49

authorities were waiting.

05:51

for their details when

05:52

you're talking about uh

05:53

that 1 of 3 helicopters was

05:55

the only 1 that came down

05:57

hard again We did see a

06:00

video that appeared to

06:01

show very foggy conditions.

06:02

uh, you know, and and and

06:04

talking about again, uh, the

06:07

conspiracy theories out

06:08

there. Do you extrapolate

06:09

anything from that

06:10

statement or again? Is

06:12

this really just more of

06:13

a wait and see situation?

06:16

virtually a wait and see Um,

06:17

if 1 of 3 helicopters in a

06:20

convoy go down. That's a

06:21

question. of who was on it

06:23

was the president and the

06:25

foreign minister on the

06:26

same helicopter Are they

06:27

down? They can't locate the

06:29

helicopter which would be

06:30

concerning although it's

06:31

hard to be. feel bad for a

06:34

president. who's known as

06:35

the Butcher of Baghdad and

06:37

whose regime is responsible

06:38

for the death of so many.

06:39

American soldiers and

06:40

civilians. around the world

06:42

because Iran's largest state

06:44

sponsor terrorism, but um,

06:46

they don't seem to be

06:47

able to locate as far as

06:49

any reports that reached

06:50

here the president or

06:51

foreign minister you would

06:53

think that there's

06:54

communication there has to be

06:55

communication. on the T

06:58

helicopters You would think

06:59

normally with the president

07:01

that there would be backup

07:03

communication, but

07:04

not necessarily unlike this

07:05

country part of the

07:06

military. command and

07:08

control. Um, and he can

07:10

sometimes even be almost

07:11

relegated.

07:12

and that according to the

07:12

Constitution but in fact

07:14

almost relegated to

07:15

civilians to to to like a

07:18

figurehead if the supreme

07:19

leader come and he chooses

07:21

because so much power is a

07:23

mass in that supreme

07:24

leader. Who's very very

07:25

aging so it is strange

07:28

even in foggy conditions

07:29

that they can't seem and

07:31

would be troubling if you

07:32

care about their health and

07:34

it's hard to given the

07:35

amount of deaths around

07:36

the region. Arab Israeli.

07:38

American British Etc. leads

07:40

to that regime, but it's

07:42

it it it's strange that

07:43

they're not able to locate

07:45

or confirm that they're

07:46

alive. Even that is

07:47

strange and that makes me

07:49

doubt that they're still

07:51

alive or they're in at all

07:53

good condition. and

07:55

let's talk about a a Ron's.

07:56

Uh role in the ongoing.

07:57

war between Israel and Hamas

07:58

we have seen recently

08:00

Iran growing Bolder. uh in

08:02

their attacks typically as

08:04

as you know they use

08:06

proxies could this incident?

08:09

impact? that strategy at

08:11

all. Yes, I really do

08:14

think this is kind of this

08:16

crediting They had a massive

08:17

strike against Israel, which

08:19

was an entirely a dud

08:21

It does appear to have

08:22

been a few. listic

08:24

missiles that did reach and

08:25

cause some limited damage

08:27

to 1 Israeli Air Force

08:29

Space, but I suspect

08:30

that's because is atmospheric

08:32

Interceptor Arrow 3 is a new

08:34

newest an interception

08:35

outer space. is actually

08:37

video of an explosion

08:38

in outer space from it and

08:39

it's probably very limited

08:40

coverage and they probably

08:42

figured with this Air Force

08:43

Base they could just fly

08:44

the planes off in the 8

08:45

minutes it would take up

08:46

ballistic missile to hit.

08:48

or Israel may have heard

08:50

in shelters able to

08:51

Rez exists

08:53

anything but a nuclear

08:53

explosion and even

08:54

there they probably

08:55

have contingencies so and

08:56

I think that obviously the

08:57

coverage will be extended

08:59

you have hundreds of

09:00

projectiles fired at Israel

09:01

in virtually all of them

09:03

intercepted very much a dud

09:05

embarrassing to appears to

09:08

have covered up that

09:10

Israeli airline cruise

09:11

missiles. destroyed the

09:12

air defense of 1 that their

09:14

major. um nuclear sites is

09:16

a huge warranty that

09:18

Israel has the ability to

09:19

strike with accuracy and

09:20

impunity anywhere in around

09:21

so this is discrediting and

09:23

the fact that they cannot

09:24

even protect. their

09:26

president and foreign

09:27

minister and despite the

09:28

fact that their powers are

09:29

limited and they're not

09:30

always aware of everything.

09:32

it is very discrediting.

09:33

They can't even protect

09:34

their leaders. It's

09:35

going to raise doubts. did

09:37

somebody um within the

09:39

regime murder them,

09:40

you know as as the power

09:42

struggle grows with a

09:43

potential succession. there,

09:44

of course. going to accuse

09:46

Israel because they accuse

09:47

Israel in the United States

09:48

of everything or that's

09:49

very likely unless it's

09:50

just an obvious accent

09:52

that they have to confess

09:52

up to. um, and these are men

09:56

with an incredible blood

09:57

the president of Iran is a

09:59

bunch of Baghdad. There's

10:00

a lot of people in Iran

10:01

who despise this government

10:02

including the the president

10:04

or perhaps a former

10:06

president of Iran? Michael

10:07

zanto foreign policy expert.

10:09

Thank you so much for

10:10

joining us here on live

10:11

now from Fox to really

10:12

break down this breaking

10:14

news. We appreciate it.

10:16

You're very welcome. Have