A helicopter carrying Iran's president crashes amid conflicting reports
Iranian media reported a helicopter crash involving a convoy of three helicopters, one of which was carrying the country's president, Ebrahim Raisi. AP and Tasnim agencies provided the information about the incident. Rescue teams are already on their way to the site, although adverse weather conditions make it difficult for them to reach the location.
According to Iranian media, President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter experienced a "hard landing" on Sunday. There is no official confirmation from the government yet.
Reuters reports that the information regarding the incident in Iranian media is conflicting.
Raisi was travelling in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan. State television described the incident as near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, about 600 kilometres northwest of Iran's capital, Tehran.
Helicopter crash involving the president of Iran
In Azerbaijan, Raisi and the country's president, Ilham Aliyev, officially inaugurated the operation of a dam on the Aras River.
The helicopter was also said to have been carrying, among others, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister.
Unofficially, it is known that rescue teams are being hindered by poor weather conditions – heavy rain and strong winds.
Local authorities in East Azerbaijan reported that, at this moment, they cannot provide information about "potential fatalities and injuries" related to the helicopter crash with the president on board.
