Iran's President, Foreign Minister missing after helicopter crashes in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan. Weather conditions are hampering rescue efforts, according to state media.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were "at risk". "We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.
Other than the Iranian leaders, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, representative of the Iranian supreme leader to East Azerbaijan were on board.
Raisi as a strong contender to succeed his 85-year-old mentor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has strongly endorsed Raisi's main policies.
