The helicopter on which Iranian President Ebrahim Reis travels is taken down

A helicopter Iranian President Ebrahim Reis was traveling with, and his foreign minister made a forced and tight drop of “” on Sunday. Iranian news agencies said the helicopter was flying over a densely clouded mountainous area. Mr. Reiss was returning from a visit to Azerbaijan.

Bad weather is complicating rescue efforts, state news agency IRNA reported. The semi-official news agency Fars called on Iranians to pray for Rais while prayers were broadcast on state television.

The state news agency IRNA said President Reis, Foreign Minister Josein Amirabdullahian and local officials were travelling to the helicopter.

Interior Minister Ahmed Vahid told state television that one of three helicopters had made a violent decline and that authorities were waiting for further details.

63-year-old Rais was elected to the post of president in 2021 after a second attempt. Since taking office, he has ordered a tightening of moral laws and the bloody crackdown on antigovernmental protests. He has made strong efforts on the international plain regarding Tehran's nuclear aspirations.

On the basis of the Iranian political system, divided between the clerical structure and the government, the last word on major issues belongs to the country's supreme leader, not the president.

But President Reis is seen as a strong contender to succeed his mentor, Supreme Leader Ayothallah Ali Khamenei, who has strongly supported Rais' main policies. / VOA