Military crews are reportedly heading to the exact location of the crash despite ongoing adverse weather conditions, state news agencies claimed, per CNN.
An Iranian official who spoke to Al Jazeera stated that specialized teams are attempting to reach the site as quickly as possible after receiving the signal.
“We cannot confirm any information related to the president and those who were with him, and the searches are continuing vigorously,” the official stated.
No further details have been provided regarding the condition of President Raisi or the other officials who were onboard.State television previously reported that an Iranian official confirmed that one passenger and one crew member had made contact with the rescue teams. However, this was denied by an official with the Iranian Red Crescent shortly after that report.
The helicopter experienced a "crash landing" in mountainous terrain as Raisi was traveling to Tabriz after visiting the Iran-Azerbaijan border, where he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to inaugurate a dam.
Rescue efforts continue as the situation develops although Iran called off the air search due to weather conditions such as fog in the mountainous, East Ajerbaijan region where the helicopter went down.
