Helicopter in Iranian president’s convoy involved in accident: state TV

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

DUBAI: One helicopter in a convoy of three in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was travelling was involved in an accident, Iranian state TV said on Sunday.

As per initial reports, a helicopter carrying the Iranian president faced a rough landing, Iranian state TV said, adding that rescue teams are on their way to the site.

State TV did not give any further details about the incident.

Later, Iran’s interior minister confirmed one of the helicopters in president’s convoy had a rough landing. 

“Some unconfirmed reports say that the helicopter carrying President Raisi has had an accident in East Azerbaijan province,” state television said, adding that rescue efforts were underway.

“The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site,” state TV said in an on-screen news alert.

According to some local media, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and local officials were travelling in the same helicopter as Raisi.

Raisi was visiting East Azerbaijan province on Sunday where he inaugurated a dam project in the company of his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliev, on the border between the two countries.

Raisi, 63, has been president of the Islamic Republic since June 2021.