Rescuers in Iran are trying to reach a helicopter involved in “an incident” while carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, state television reported.
State media says President Ebrahim Raisi was on board a helicopter that experienced 'a hard landing'.
Mr Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. The Interior Minister said rescuers were still trying to reach the site due to the difficult weather conditions.
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State TV described the area of the incident happening as being near Jolfa, a city on the border with with the nation of Azerbaijan, some 375 miles northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (Mert Gokhan Koc/AP)
Mr Raisi had been in Azerbaijan early on Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River.
Iran flies a variety of helicopters in the country, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them.
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Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mr Raisi, 63, is a hardliner who formerly led the country’s judiciary.
He is viewed as a protege of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some analysts have suggested he could replace the 85-year-old leader after his death or resignation from the role.
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