Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran. (Majid Saidi/Getty Images)
Iranian state media reported on Sunday that President Ebrahim Raisi's escort helicopter was involved in an “accident”, but did not say whether the president was on board.
“According to some unconfirmed reports, the helicopter carrying President Raisi had an accident in East Azerbaijan province,” state television said, adding that rescue operations were underway.
“Hard weather conditions and dense fog are making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the accident scene,” state television said in an on-screen news bulletin.
According to some local media, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian and local officials were traveling in the same helicopter as Raisi.
Raisi was visiting East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, where he and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a dam project on the border between the two countries.
Raisi, 63, has been the president of the Islamic Republic since June 2021.
We live in a world where fact and fiction become blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a huge impact on our lives. Join thousands of passionate South Africans who rely on News24 to bring you trusted news every day. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, become a News24 subscriber and stay informed, inspired and empowered.