Rescue teams have reached the city of Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, where they are attempting to locate the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, which made a hard landing.

President Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, and several other passengers, was on board when the helicopter encountered difficulties and was forced to make the hard landing in Jolfa, a city bordering Azerbaijan.

According to Iranian official media, the presidential convoy consisted of three helicopters. Two of these helicopters landed safely, while the third made the hard landing.

The incident occurred as President Raisi was returning from a ceremony inaugurating a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Drone units are being deployed to assist in the emergency operation, according to reports. Despite bad weather conditions making it challenging for rescue teams from the Iranian Red Crescent Society to reach the site, efforts are ongoing.

Further details are awaited.