Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi,  Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a group of officials accompanying them have died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran.

Quoting Iranian Red Crescent Society President, IRNA News agency said, the wreckage of the helicopter was found and there was no sign of life at the crash site.

The helicopter made a hard landing yesterday afternoon after it got into difficulties in heavy fog in the north of the country. President Raisi was travelling back to Iran following a visit to Azerbaijan when his helicopter came down. He had been in office since 2021.

The Iranian cabinet has convened for a second emergency meeting in less than 24 hours following the confirmation of the death of the President and the Foreign Minister in the helicopter crash.

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Mokhber already chaired a meeting last evening after the helicopter went missing with nine people on board. According to protocol, with President Raisi’s death, Mr. Mokhber should assume power, pending approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. New elections will then have to be held within 50 days.