Iran’s president Raisi and FM missing in a helicopter

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Iran helicopter accident President Raisi, FM on missing aircraft

Tehran(ANN)-Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on board the helicopter that suffered a “hard landing” in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, says Iranian state media.

Adverse weather conditions, including heavy fog, are hampering rescue efforts and the helicopter is still missing.

Ilham Aliyev had met Raisi earlier on Sunday, and said he had bid a “friendly farewell” to the Iranian president.
“As a neighbour, friend and brotherly country, Azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed,” Aliyev added, according to Al Jezeera report

Rescue workers travelling to site by foot. An Iranian state television reporter says that as it gets darker and colder, the crews approaching the site are avoiding travel by car, due to the roads in the area not being paved, and rain making the ground muddy.

Iran’s president Raisi and his delegation took three helicopters and visited the neighboring country of Asarejan, which had a border dispute between Iran, but at the moment the relations between the two countries are improving.

The accident happened in the mountains of South Azerbaijan. where the weather changed, with heavy rains,the last few days.

According to local media, President Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north west of Iran, after returning from the border with Azerbaijan, where he opened the Qiz Qalasi and Khoda Afarin dams.

Heavy fog is making the search difficult at the site where it is thought that the helicopter may have landed, according to a reporter with Fars news agency.

He said the visibility in the mountainous and wooded area was down to only about five meters.

Other officials are said to be on the missing helicopter.

Footage has emerged on state television showing worshippers praying for the president’s health in the holy city of Mashhad.