Helicopter carrying Iran President Raisi found, state media says 'no sign of life'

The chief of Iran's Red Crescent said Monday that the missing helicopter which was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation had been found, but the situation was "not good".

Iran's state television there was "no sign" of life among passengers of the helicopter which was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials.

"Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet," state TV reported.

Iran's Press TV confirmed on social media X that President Raeisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of a delegation were "martyred" in the crash.

A senior official, requesting anonymity, told Reuters news agency that President Raisi, the foreign minister, and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash.

Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is also confirmed to have died

According to Turkey's Anadolu agency, a drone sent by Istanbul to help in the search operation identified the source of heat that is believed to be the wreckage of the helicopter. The crash site is believed to be on the side of a mountain in northwest Iran. The agency said the coordinates of the site were shared with the Iranian authorities.

According to Iran's state-run agency IRNA, search-and-rescue teams are now on their way to the potential accident site called "Tawil". But, nothing has been confirmed till now.

Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri said that two members of President Ebrahim Raisi’s entourage contacted rescue teams, and this shows that the air incident involving their helicopter has not been rough.

The alleged crash took place on Sunday after a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed in a northern region of the country.

After hours of searching, officials say they have still not reached the crash site due to the dense fog and extreme cold in the remote, mountainous East Azerbaijan Province.

The country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was among a number of officials also aboard the helicopter, IRNA reports.

It has been reported that Russia plans to send special aircraft and 50 professional mountain rescuers to the crash site.

Two special Russian helicopters will be sent to the crash site from Armenia, according to IRNA, which reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the move.

Also read | Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash site revealed in first images