A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crash-landed on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Iranian state media reports that the crash occurred near Jolfa in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. However, it is unclear if Raisi and others on board with him survived the crash.

According to the report, Hossein Amirabdollahian, foreign minister; Malek Rahmati, governor of East Azarbaijan province; and Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem, Tabriz Friday prayer leader, were also on board the helicopter.

Raisi was reported to be returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when the helicopter crash landed in the Varzaqan region. State-linked media said three helicopters were in the Iranian president’s convoy, and the two others made it back safely.

It added that rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the area, and search operations continue.