Search for Iran's president after copter crashes

IRANIAN president Ebrahim Raisi was missing last night after his helicopter was forced to make a "hard landing" in thick fog.

- Stephen Beach

With a major search and rescue operation under way, it was reported last night that contact had been established with the aircraft, which was bringing him back from a trip to neighbouring Azerbaijan.

However, there was confusion about whether its location had been established and an official earlier said Raisi's life was "at risk".

Sixteen rescue teams as well as military personnel, police support units and drones were involved in the search, according to Iranian officials.

Locals said foggy conditions near the city of Jolfa, 375 miles north-west of the Iranian capital Tehran, were hampering the rescue effort.

Hardliner

The Iranian Red Crescent also sent drones to help locate the helicopter, its chief Babak Mahmoudi said.