Dubai: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi travelling helicopter crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog. According to the Iranian official sources information to the Reuter said that the Iranian Foreign Minister travelled in the crashed helicopter.

The Iranian President’s convey travelled with three helicopters to Azerbaijan, in the return journey President travelling helicopter crashed and the remaining two helicopter returned safely to the destination with officials and other leaders.

Iranian state media said bad weather caused the crash and was complicating rescue efforts. Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter, said State news agency IRNA.

The rescuers were struggling to reach the site of the incident. According to the official sources the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were at risk following the helicopter crash.  This incident happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s Northwest.

We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning, said the official. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to State Affairs.

The Chief of staff of Iran’s army ordered all the resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guard to be put to use in search and rescue operations. The national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.