A major search operation is underway in Iran after a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian went missing in a mountainous region on Sunday.
NewsNGR initially reported an accident in East Azerbaijan province near the border with Azerbaijan. Later reports described the incident as a ‘hard landing’ due to harsh weather conditions and heavy fog.
Rescue teams with drones and search dogs are battling difficult terrain to locate the crash site.
Fears are growing for the safety of the 63-year-old president and other officials on board.
Raisi was visiting the region to inaugurate a dam project with his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. Two other helicopters in the presidential convoy reportedly landed safely.
Several countries have offered assistance in the search effort. Neighboring Iraq’s Prime Minister instructed relevant authorities to provide resources, while Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev expressed his support and promise to offer any assistance needed.
Even regional rival Saudi Arabia, which recently restored diplomatic ties with Iran, offered its help.
The US State Department is also closely following the situation.