President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi has been involved in a helicopter accident, according to Iranian state television.
The incident occurred in East Azerbaijan, where the helicopter which was part of a three-helicopter convoy crashed.
Aside from President Raisi, East Azerbaijan Governor Ayatollah Al Hashim and Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Emir Abdullahiyan were also on board the helicopter.
Rescue operations are currently underway, but teams have not yet reached the crash site.
However, according to the Iranian state media, dense fog and severe weather conditions are complicating the search and rescue efforts.
The area of the incident was reported to be near Jolfa, close to the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
The helicopter, part of a convoy of three, experienced what officials described as a “hard landing.”
Poor weather conditions, including heavy rains, fog, and wind, were reported in the area at the time of the incident, which may have contributed to the difficulties in landing safely.
Raisi had been in Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam with President Ilham Aliyev the day before the incident, despite strained relations between the two nations.
The convoy comprised three helicopters, with the other two returning safely.
Officials including Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem were on board the helicopter with Raisi.
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An emergency call from inside the helicopter raised hopes that there were no fatalities, but the condition of the passengers remains unclear.
Rescue operations were hindered by the challenging weather conditions, with various teams dispatched to the crash site.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed radio contact with the helicopter but provided no further details.
The crash site is believed to be in the Dizmar Protected Area, a forested and mountainous region.
The type of helicopter involved in the incident is unknown, as Iran’s fleet includes various models, many of which are outdated due to decades of sanctions. Such accidents are not uncommon in Iran due to the aging fleet of aircraft.
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Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran highlighted the challenges faced by Iran’s aviation sector, citing outdated aircraft as a contributing factor to frequent accidents.
Rescue teams were expected to take hours to reach the crash site due to the remote and rugged terrain.
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