President raisi had been travelling back from a trip to neighbouring azerbaijan. Rescue teams are looking for the aircraft in rain and thick fog. Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has assured the country that there will be no disruption to state affairs. Heres a brief bit of what he said in his first Public Statement about the accident. May god return the president to the people. The iranian nation should rest assured there will be no disruption to the running of the country. These people in tehran gave their reaction to the crash. I hope they are fine and well and we get to enjoy the news of them being well. This news is unfortunate both for the government and the people. If anything happens to him, it will take time if anything happens to him, it will take time to replace him. And for the situation to settle down and, meanwhile, things will be chaotic and this meanwhile, things will be chaotic and this is meanwhile, things will be chaotic and this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing and this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing bad and this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing bad happens. It and this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing bad happens. And this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing bad happens. It was 100 an accident because nothing bad happens. It was 100 an accident because it nothing bad happens. It was 100 an accident because it is nothing bad happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a nothing bad happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a Cold Accident because it is a cold climate accident because it is a cold climate and accident because it is a cold climate and it accident because it is a cold climate and it was accident because it is a cold climate and it was very accident because it is a cold. Climate and it was very foggy. While a major Search Operation is continuing in iran, the bbc� Sjon Donnison has more on what has happened during the day. Rescue teams struggling through the fog to the scene of the accident. Dozens of people are involved in the search, but bad weather is reported to be hampering their efforts. It happened in the far north of iran, near the city of tabriz, close to the border with azerbaijan. President raisi, seen here on the left, had been visiting a dam project. This is thought to be footage of him earlier in the day, travelling in a convoy of three helicopters. First reports that something had gone wrong were announced on state tv. Translation there are unconfirmed reports of an incident involving the helicopter carrying the president in thejolfa region. Initial reports cite a hard landing for the helicopter carrying the president. President raisi, considered a hardliner, is the second most powerfulfigure in iran and has been regarded as a possible successor to the Supreme Leader, ali khamenei. There is no word yet on any casualties today, but across iran, there have been prayers for the president s safety. Jon donnison, bbc news. The image you can see here is the copernicus Emergency Management system. That has been activated by the european commission. Now, they have access to an incredible amount of Satellite Imagery, mapping systems, that they use in Emergency Response and disaster risk management. And this is going to come into particular, it is going to be particularly helpful for the iranian authorities because, you just had there, the area in which they believe this helicopter went down is just, they believe this helicopter went down isjust, it is they believe this helicopter went down is just, it is affected they believe this helicopter went down isjust, it is affected by inclement weather at the moment. So with a vi you could not see anything. You do need specialised access which would map some of the images you can see on the screen and a lot of that comes from remote sensing, from Satellite Imagery and satellites positioned, of course, above the earth. See hope is they will be able to locate the wreckage of that helicopter in this remote, mountainous area which iran itself has described, the red crescent has described as dangerous and vulnerable as well. As we heard president raisi was returning from a meeting with azerbaijans president ilham aliyev, when reports of the crash emerged. President aliyev has now reacted to the incident. He said that today, after bidding a friendly farewell to the president of the Islamic Republic of iran, Ebrahim Raisi we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation Crash Landing in iran. Our prayers to allah almighty are with president Ebrahim Raisi and the accompanying delegation. As a neighbour, friend, and brotherly country, the republic of azerbaijan stands ready to offer any assistance needed. Turkeys president erdogan says he is deeply saddened by Iran Helicopter Accident and is in full coordination with iran authorities. He also said i convey my best wishes to our neighbour, friend and brother iranian people and government, and i hope to receive good news from mr raisi and his delegation as soon as possible, turkey has also sent Mountain Rescue Team to iran. Russia, that is one of irans biggest allies, is ready to extend help in connection with the crash of a helicopter carrying thecountry� s president. This is according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman maria zakharova. She added that all necessary help could be extended in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident. With me now is our news correspondent, azadeh moshiri. It is dark there now. The search teams are still there. And we have got some images here of the conditions they are trying to carry out the Search And Rescue operations. Ill be likely, do you think, to hear anything from the Uranium Regime over the next few hours . It Uranium Regime over the next few hours . ,. , Uranium Regime over the next few hours . , . , hours . It is difficult to say. We do know that, hours . It is difficult to say. We do know that, based hours . It is difficult to say. We do know that, based on hours . It is difficult to say. We do know that, based on what hours . It is difficult to say. We do know that, based on what we hours . It is difficult to say. We do | know that, based on what we have heard in the last hour or so, the fact that they have told state tv, an official in the government has told state tv that they have narrowed down the radius. There are reports that the location is becoming clearer. In that sense, perhaps, but also, it has been ours. It has been so long. Weve had state tv reporting, reporting on the conditions there. We have seen the pictures but of the cow think that fog is lit up you can barely see anything there and the fact that it is late in a run now. It is cold. Rescue teams have said that they are working on foot right now and that, given the cold, this is Search And Rescue operation is slowing down and, therefore, if we were going to hear something, you feel like we would have potentially heard something already. Aside from the fact that it is so difficult to actually mount this operation. The terrain, you see those rough hills right now and the pictures we see and, aside from that also the fact that this is a Significant Development for the Islamic Republic and this is a country that tightly controls the information that trickles out. That is why we are relying so much on what we are hearing from state tv. Even if they do have any more details, even if it gets to a point where they understand a bit more, it is unclear where we would get that information or how. Right now, theyre really simply pushing this message that it is important to pray for the president , that there will be continued search efforts, that they are progressing on their search efforts, but that either way, the work of the government will continue. They are trying to add some messages of stability amongst all these unknown factors. In some messages of stability amongst all these unknown factors. In window fiaure all these unknown factors. In Window Figure touch all these unknown factors. In Window Figure touch very all these unknown factors. In Window Figure touch very quickly, all these unknown factors. In Window Figure touch very quickly, if all these unknown factors. In Window Figure touch very quickly, if you figure touch very quickly, if you could put into context, the action that we have had from some of the countries. Some of them are regional neighbours. Some of them, you know, there were surprise, for example, saudi arabia and iran. Saudi arabia pledging their support. {siege saudi arabia and iran. Saudi arabia pledging their support. Pledging their support. Give us a bit of background. Pledging their support. Give us a bit of background. Well, pledging their support. Give us a bit of background. Well, saudi i bit of background. Well, saudi arabia and iran have had a certain rapprochement in the past year or so. Saudi arabia reopened and irani and embassy there and they have been celebrating this relationship ever since they severed those diplomatic ties and so it is unsurprising that saudi arabia would send those messages. Now, of course, youve had messages. Now, of course, youve had messages from russia and other important allies to iran, especially as they stand against the west but you also have messages from the eu saying it is pledging a certain level of support and map out a location. It is because this is not a political issue. This was not, as far as we know, the result of any foreign attack. That is not the weight is being presented. And so, it is in that unsurprising that you have so many countries, both allies and countries that their difficult relationships with, pledging to help in some way. You certainly do see allies showing real support. Turkey are sending rescue teams. Adapt to working with the sort of difficult terrain. And, in some ways, when you have a big crisis like this, a Significant Development, you would expect countries to send thoughts and messages of support as well as sending some bits on the ground. Speaking of bits on the ground, to be know how long it took for some of these rescue teams to actually arrive in the area. To be have those details . Well, as soon as we had pictures come end, we saw that at first we saw a lot of buses going in, ambulances as well, anticipating that they could be casualties and injuries. But that they could be casualties and inuries. � , w , injuries. But very quickly, within about 30 minutes, injuries. But very quickly, within about 30 minutes, 30 injuries. But very quickly, within about 30 minutes, 30 minutes, | injuries. But very quickly, within i about 30 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 about 30 minutes, 30 minutes, a0 minutes, we started Hearing Reports that they had proceed on foot because of the fact that they simply couldnt see anything. In terms of how long this process has taken. Again, we are relying on information from state media and weve seen over the course of a few hours, some of that information has been conflicting. At one point we heard the rest crescent say they lost some of their own members in the midst of this thick fog and a spokesperson said those reports were false and only a task force was able to speak so, given the fact that, again, that information is tightly controlled, it is hard to get a real sense of that. ,. ,. , it is hard to get a real sense of that. ,. ,. , it is hard to get a real sense of that. ,. ,. , it is hard to get a real sense of that. ,. ,. ,. , it is hard to get a real sense of that. ,. ,. ,. , that. Questions also as to why on earth to highprofile that. Questions also as to why on earth to highprofile key that. Questions also as to why on | earth to highprofile key members that. Questions also as to why on earth to highprofile key members of earth to high profile key members of the iranian political scene would be travelling in one aircraft like this. We know, dont be, for example, were often watching on air force one, marine one and it is well known if the weather is bad, mr biden does not board a plane or helicopter if it is a shortjourney. Is this normal that high profile individuals, youve got an image of them. We are told this was on board them. We are told this was on board the helicopter. We think that is the helicopterjust the helicopter. We think that is the helicopter just at the back of the Gentleman Walking there. Normal protocol in iran . Can we say that . It is a question. It is a question that has been asked. By the two important figures like this be travelling together question that they were in there to inaugurate a damn. Theyre travelling in order to better the ties with their neighbours and other regional countries. But there are two questions there. You mentioned the fact that why did they get out there was bad weather . Some of the report suggest that there was not such bad weather when they left. That they did not anticipate what they may have faced. We do not know what caused whatever Crash Landing, is there putting it, but they clearly did not realise or anticipate how dangerous this journey would be and, to your point, there were three helicopters that were part of this convoy carrying the president so once the reports started coming in, it was particularly shocking to find out that both these figures were on the same helicopter. And is really very quickly, we dont know who was on board the other two, do we . Irate very quickly, we dont know who was on board the other two, do we . We do know that there on board the other two, do we . We do know that there were on board the other two, do we . We do know that there were two on board the other two, do we . We do know that there were two senior know that there were two senior officials so it is important in that sense of it i also want to put this into context because we keep saying, you know, it is a significant moment, to the crisis. It is, in some ways. Of course, it is a present, but Ebrahim Raisi is not the same sort of figure, president ialfigure she the same sort of figure, president ial figure she might have in some other countries. Irans Power Structure is very different. The Supreme Leader calls the shots. The Supreme Leader calls the shots. The present follows them. Course, there can be a risk. The president who preceded him certainly did not get on with Ayatollah Khamenei. Ebrahim raisi was actually his protege so in that sense it is a protege so in that sense it is a protege especially when there were questions in terms of succession in up questions in terms of succession in up the accession to Supreme Leader but he is not the one who has been calling the shots, continuity is very much possible, given the fact that the power lines with the Supreme Leader. That the power lines with the Supreme Leader. That the power lines with the sureme leader. , ~ ,. ,. Supreme leader. Thank you very much indeed. Supreme leader. Thank you very much indeed thank Supreme Leader. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you. Lets speak to senior director for strategic 0utreach at the middle east institute, firas maksad. Welcome to the programme. My colleague is saying a blow but maybe not a crisis. Iiii colleague is saying a blow but maybe not a crisis. , , not a crisis. If the worst is announced. Not a crisis. If the worst is announced. Well, not a crisis. If the worst is announced. Well, it not a crisis. If the worst is announced. Well, it is not a crisis. If the worst is announced. Well, it is definitely a blow for the irani and government, no doubt. To lose your president and not be able to locate him for over seven or eight hours now, is deeply embarrassing for any country. Let alone a regime that has been accused widely of corruption and incompetence by its people. I think for many irani and this also brings back memories of another aviation Disaster Division was held responsible for which was the shooting down of a Ukrainian Airliner injanuary 2020 which they regime subsequently took responsibility for and explained it by saying they had mistaken it for an american cruise missile. I think this kind of news and coverage only deepens the rift between the irani in government and the people and reinforces what many already believe which is that the government is deeply incompetent and out in the ad, to ask quite have to ask for support and assistance from other countries when you protect yourself as a Regional Power and to ask for Night Vision Equipment from the turks and as for Satellite Data and reconnaissance from the europeans, who the islamic regime in iran portray as part of a decadent and rival west, portray as part of a decadent and rivalwest, i portray as part of a decadent and rival west, i think this is maybe not a moment of crisis but it is another data point along the way for the regime. Its deepening lack of legitimacy. The regime. Its deepening lack of lecitima. ~. The regime. Its deepening lack of lecitima. ,. , the regime. Its deepening lack of lecitima. ,. ,. , the regime. Its deepening lack of legitimacy legitimacy. Want to clarify youre sa in legitimacy. Want to clarify youre saying that legitimacy. Want to clarify youre saying that they legitimacy. Want to clarify youre