A helicopter in the convoy of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in “an accident” on Sunday, state media reported, without specifying if the president was on board.
“Some unconfirmed reports say that the helicopter carrying President Raisi has had an accident in East Azerbaijan province,” state television said, adding that rescue efforts were underway.
“The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site,” state TV said in an on-screen news alert.
The Iranian official news agency IRNA said the helicopter involved in the incident had been carrying Raisi as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and local officials.
The semi-official Fars news agency called on Iranians to pray for Raisi following the reports.
Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state TV that authorities were awaiting further details.
Meanwhile, Iran’s ISNA network reported that rescue teams have reached the crash site. They posted a video of rescue personnel on their X page.
Raisi was visiting East Azerbaijan province on Sunday where he inaugurated a dam project in the company of his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliev, on the border between the two countries.
Raisi, 63, has been president of the Islamic Republic since June 2021.