A helicopter carrying Iran’s president has been involved in a “hard landing” during bad weather, Iranian state media has said.
President Ebrahim Raisi was travelling in Iran‘s East Azerbaijan province at the time.
Rescue teams are trying to reach the scene but are reportedly being hampered by fog and heavy rain.
State media initially said it happened near Jolfa, about 375 miles (600km) northwest of Tehran, but then put it further east near the village of Uzi.
The president was reportedly travelling with foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province and other officials.
However, Iranian interior minister Ahmed Vahidi didn’t confirm whether Mr Raisi was on board the helicopter involved, saying he was travelling in a convoy of aircraft.
Mr Raisi had been in Azerbaijan for the inauguration of a dam with the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev.
Pic: IRNA
“The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog,” Mr Vahidi said on state TV.
“Various rescue teams are on their way to the region but because of the poor weather and fogginess it might take time for them to reach the helicopter.”
He added: “The region is a bit [rugged] and it’s difficult to make contact. We are waiting for rescue teams to reach the landing site and give us more information.”
President Raisi (left) had been in Azerbaijan to inaugurate a dam alongside the country’s leader. Pic: IRNA
Pic: IRNA
Many of Iran’s military aircraft date back to before the 1979 revolution and international sanctions can make it hard to obtain parts.
Mr Raisi, 63, is a hardliner and former head of the judiciary who some have suggested could one day replace Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He has been president since August 2021.
Mr Raisi’s time in charge has included major protests over Mahsa Amini – the woman who died after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.
Iran also took the unprecedented decision in April to launch a drone and missile attack on Israel.
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Source Agencies
