IRAN PRES MISSING IN CHOPPER CRASH

Incident sparks talk of 'foul play

- KEITH PERRY

A HELICOPTER carrying Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister crashed in heavy fog.

The fate of Mr Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was still unclear last night after their helicopter experienced what Iran state media called "a hard landing".

Footage on state TV showed worshippers praying for the president's health in the holy city of Mashhad.

The US State Department is closely following the reports.

Heavy fog hampered the search for the aircraft but eventually rescue teams found it. At least one passenger and one crew member had been in contact with rescuers but there were no details of the condition of those on board.