Helicopter carrying Iran President Raisi crashes

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has crashed, Iranian interior minister said this on Sunday (May 19).

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter made a rough land. They are awaiting further details. Rescue teams are on their way to the scene.

Iran's official news agency IRNA said the helicopter was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and local officials.

The semi-official Fars news agency called on Iranians to pray for Raisi.

Raisi, 63, was elected president at the second attempt in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.