Introduction
On the afternoon of May 19, 2024, Iranians received news of a helicopter disappearance near Varzeghan. This news was extremely concerning as it involved Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the time, along with several notable individuals including Hossein Amir Abdollahian (Foreign Minister), Malek Rahmati (Governor-General of East Azerbaijan), and Seyed Mohammad Ali Al Hashem (Imam of Friday Prayer of Tabriz, Representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan and a prominent figure in the province). The search operation for the helicopter continued until the morning of May 20, when the wreckage was finally discovered. Official reports confirmed the tragic deaths of these distinguished individuals, as well as the pilots and the head of the President’s Protection Unit, who were also on board.
While initial investigations have considered factors such as bad weather and fog, Mohammad Javad Zarif (former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran) attributed the incident to the US government in an interview conducted shortly after the announcement of the President’s death. This attribution stems from the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US on Iran, which have significantly impacted the country’s aviation industry.[1] Not only Zarif, but various individuals in the Iranian and international media, as well as several politicians, have also highlighted the role of sanctions in contributing to this accident. The following analysis examines the accident within the context of the sanctions imposed on Iran.
The Helicopter’s Quality Involved in the Accident
The helicopter in question is a Bell 212, manufactured by the United States. It was developed as an advanced model following the production of the Bell 412. The production of these helicopters spanned from 1968 to 1998.[2] The helicopter involved in the accident was over 40 years old, as indicated by its registration code. Based on recorded statistics, over 60% of Iranian helicopters are more than four decades old.[3]
The majority of these helicopters were acquired from the United States prior to the triumph of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979. Following the revolution, significant harm was inflicted upon the existing fleet due to arms embargoes imposed by the US, as well as the Iran-Iraq War. Nevertheless, Iran is making efforts to rely on domestic capabilities and procure parts from Eastern states in order to modernize its deteriorating fleet.
Bell 212 helicopters are operational in numerous countries and possess diverse applications in both military and civilian sectors. These applications include passenger and cargo transportation, firefighting, and more.[4] These helicopters are widely regarded as safe and reliable within the aviation industry. However, the primary contributor to their safety and reliability lies in the installation of new and updated parts. The export of replacement parts for Bell helicopter technical systems is subject to regulation by the United States, the United Kingdom, and several European countries.[5]
Owing to even sending equipment and parts which 10% is American, are prohibited by the extraterritorial sanctions of the US and also the existence of extensive sanctions and the tendency of economic private actors for de-risking, buying these parts is tricky for Iran. This state is forced to go to Intermediary purchases as well as the purchase of second-hand parts. On the other hand, Iran’s relations with the Eastern states inter alia Russia also couldn’t help to solve this problem seriously. Moreover, Russian jets themselves need American technologies in terms of parts.[6] Due to the imposition of US sanctions, Bell Textron, the manufacturer of the Bell 212 helicopter, does not engage in any commercial activities or provide support services within Iran.[7] Many commercial and civil helicopters, particularly those intended for transporting high-ranking government officials, have undergone modifications to incorporate advanced air navigation and safety equipment. These additions were not available half a century ago and were retrofitted onto older helicopters through hardware updates. Regrettably, the helicopter used by the late Iranian president did not possess such equipment. If Iran were capable of producing these essential components on a large scale, they would undoubtedly be applied to the president’s helicopter. Furthermore, the collision between the helicopter and the mountain suggests that modern navigation equipment should have been implemented to prevent such accidents.[8]
Impact of the Sanctions on Helicopter Search Operations
However, investigations conducted by the relevant authorities have determined that the passengers of the helicopter perished upon impact. According to officials in the area, only one passenger, Seyed Mohammad Ali Al Hashem, briefly survived the crash. He was contacted by phone and responded in the early hours after the accident. However, there has been discussion about the delayed discovery of the helicopter crash site. The presence of fog and other weather conditions in the region also contributed to this delay.
The 2022 report on Iran by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights suggests a lack of search-and-rescue helicopters and air medical services ambulances, which are essential for reaching accident victims.[9]
Furthermore, the depletion of the helicopter fleet and the outdated parts, coupled with the challenges associated with their procurement, have a significant impact on the delivery of relief aid. This is particularly evident in Iran’s struggles during various air accidents and incidents, especially in adverse weather conditions and remote areas such as mountains. The same predicament arose during the accident involving the presidential helicopter.
According to the head of the Relief & Rescue Organization of Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Iran currently lacks a helicopter equipped with night vision capabilities. The importance of this helicopter model became even more apparent during the search operation for the president’s helicopter. Prior to this incident, President Raisi personally oversaw the procurement of helicopters equipped with night vision devices from Russia; however, these helicopters have not yet arrived in the country.[10]
The absence of helicopters equipped with night vision devices, as well as the lack of specialized drones for such emergencies, compelled Iran to deploy its most advanced drones. These drones were initially located in the northern Indian Ocean, but were quickly redirected to the accident site. Additionally, Iran sought assistance from neighboring countries, including Turkey.[11]
Assessment
The provided evidence highlights the detrimental and harmful effects of American sanctions on Iran. Despite claims made by certain American officials, who attribute the accident solely to Iran’s use of a worn-out helicopter for the president’s trip[12], it is crucial to note that over half of the country’s civilian aviation fleet comprises outdated aircraft and helicopters. The imposition of sanctions has significantly hindered Iran’s ability to obtain modern parts and equipment, thereby making the American government’s justification untenable. To prevent such accidents and ensure the smooth delivery of aid, it is imperative to lift unilateral sanctions and adhere to international obligations, in full accordance with international law, human rights, and aviation regulations.
[1]. John Paul Rathbone, Sylvia Pfeifer and Philip Georgiadis, “How sanctions played havoc with Iran’s aging helicopters,” Financial Times, May 21, 2024, accessed June 7, 2024, https://www.ft.com/content/f5a9be7a-b446-426f-8b04-ee6a340bb781.
[2]. “Bell 212”, Wikipedia, accessed 10 June 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_212.
[3]. Rathbone, Op. cit.
[4]. “‘Flying with the Shah’s helicopters’; how suitable was the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi?”, Euronews Persian, 20 May 2024, accessed 10 June 2024, https://parsi.euronews.com/2024/05/20/iranian-helicopter-fleet-relicts-of-shah-era-and-all-about-ebrahim-raisi-fallen-helicopter. (In Persian)
[5]. Rathbone, Op. cit.
[6]. Helicopter crash kills Raisi: Are sanctions behind Iran’s aviation crisis?, Al-Jazeera, 20 May 2024, accessed 7 June 2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/20/helicopter-crash-kills-raisi-are-sanctions-behind-irans-aviation-crisis.
[7]. Rathbone, Op. cit.
[8]. Nader Karimi Jouni, “Sanctions took Raisi from Iran”, Jahan Sanat news, 25 May 2024, accessed 10 June 2024, https://jahansanatnews.ir/427344-%d8%b1%db%8c%db%8c%d8%b3%db%8c-%d8%b1%d8%a7-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%85%d9%87%d8%a7-%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%da%af%d8%b1%d9%81%d8%aa/. (In Persian)
[9]. Human Rights Council, ‘Visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan’ (4 October 2022) UN Doc A/HRC/51/33/Add.1, para.51
[10]. “The story of buying 12 helicopters with night vision devices from Russia by Shahid Raisi + Video”, Nour news, 25 May 2024, accessed 10 June 2024, https://nournews.ir/fa/news/174754/%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF-12-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85. (In Persian)
[11]. “Announcement of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran about the Operation for Searching the Helicopter”, Mehr News Agency, 22 May 2024, accessed 20 June 2024, https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6115545/%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D9%84-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B. (In Persian).
[12]. Helicopter crash kills Raisi: Are sanctions behind Iran’s aviation crisis? Op. cit.