A helicopter carrying victims of a car accident in the Iranian city of Mashhad has crashed, killing 10 people. The crash is being investigated, but officials say the cause may be related to weather conditions or faulty maintenance.
The helicopter, operated by the Mashhad-based Fars News Agency, was on its way to a hospital in Neyshabur after picking up survivors from the scene of the crash. It crashed on the outskirts of the city when it hit high-voltage power lines. The helicopter was carrying around 20 people at the time of the incident, including rescue workers and civilians, Fars News Agency reported.
Mashhad is Iran’s largest city, its provincial capital and an important centre of pilgrimage and Islamic culture and learning. It is home to the shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most revered Shi’ite Muslim holy figures, and a massive complex of madrasahs (Islamic schools). The city has also long been a centre for the arts, particularly music and literature.
In addition to its religious heritage, امداد خودرو مشهد is a centre of industry and trade. Its economy is based on its export of agricultural products such as saffron and dry fruits, its manufacture of traditional Iranian sweets like sohaan and gaz, intricately designed silver jewellery studded with rubies and emeralds, and fine Persian carpets and rugs. The city is also an automobile production hub.
Other economic activities include banking, insurance and a variety of services for the tourist industry. Padideh Shandiz International Tourism Development Company is an Iranian private joint stock corporation in the field of hotels, restaurants and construction. It has a football club in the Azadegan League, Mes Sarcheshmeh, and is considered to be a significant player in the country’s tourism sector.
The city is also a centre for medical research and education, with numerous hospitals and universities. Moreover, it is the site of an international conference on HIV/AIDS that takes place every year.
In recent years, Mashhad has also been a hub for political activism and dissent. In the aftermath of the 2009 presidential election, protests erupted across Iran. In Mashhad, these were led by the Front for Islamic Revolution Stability, a Principlist political group. The group argues that the current government is illegitimate and that its policies are unjust. The group’s members are a small minority in Iran’s parliament, but they enjoy substantial influence. They have opposed efforts to reform the country’s constitution and are against free speech and women’s rights. They have also accused the government of corruption and censorship. In 2015, the group threatened to resign if President Hassan Rouhani did not reform the state. In response, Rouhani announced a number of changes to the country’s political system and economic policy. The reforms are set to come into effect in 2018. The reforms will make it easier for political parties to run for office and for candidates to campaign freely. The measures will also allow more room for non-governmental organizations to operate in the country.
