On the right. Theyd both been on a trip to irans border with azerbaijan. Inaugurating a new dam project. Right here. Helicopter outside image still we� ve got an image of him on the ground at the site the one carrying the president and Foreign Minister crashed in mountainous territory in heavy inclement weather. All contact with that helicopter was then lost. A correspondent has this report. You can see how bad conditions were in the area, as the Rescue Operation was under way. A fleet of ambulances on standby. The army is reported to have ordered all resources needed to be thrown at the search. Members of irans red crescent scoured the rugged landscape on foot for any sign of the missing helicopter, but Poor Visibility made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the scene of the crash even to locate it. Translation there are currently | three drone teams in the area but| due to the thick fog and low visibility, the drones were not able to successfully operate. There are also three teams with rescue dogs in the area. We are searching and we hope well be able to reach positive results very soon. The first indication that something had gone wrong came on state run television. Translation there are unconfirmed reports of an incident involving the helicopter carrying the president. Initial reports cite a hard landing for the helicopter carrying the president. President raisi, seen here earlier with his counterpart from azerbaijan, is a hardliner. He had been involved in many negotiations including over the countrys nuclear programme. Regime supporters came out to pay for the president. These images broadcast on state run tv although not everyone in iran is praying for his survival. The vision is not popular with many iranians who would like to see an end to the Islamic Republic. But from its most senior leader, a message of calm, of continuity. I hope that god will return the president and fellow travellers to the people. The iranian nation must not be worried and rest assured, there will be no disruption to the running of the country. Late there will be no disruption to the running of the country. Running of the country. Late at niaht, running of the country. Late at night. There running of the country. Late at night, there were running of the country. Late at night, there were still running of the country. Late at night, there were still no running of the country. Late at| night, there were still no news running of the country. Late at i night, there were still no news of the fate of the president and his Foreign Minister. Several arab countries have offered assistance. Turkey has sent a Mountain Rescue Team and the eu will help with the satellite Mapping Service at the request of tehran. The world is watching closely what happens next in iran. 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, but for the government and for the people. Ii for the government and for the eole. , for the government and for the eole. , , for the government and for the neole. , ,. , people. If anything happens to him it will take time people. If anything happens to him it will take time to people. If anything happens to him it will take time to replace people. If anything happens to him it will take time to replace him. It will take time to replace him. And for it will take time to replace him. And for the situation to settle down and, meanwhile, things will be chaotic and, meanwhile, things will be chaotic and this is bad for everyone. I hope nothing bad happens everyone. I hope nothing bad happens. It everyone. I hope nothing bad ha ens. , everyone. I hope nothing bad ha ens. f everyone. I hope nothing bad hauens. f. , everyone. I hope nothing bad hauens. f. , happens. It was 100 an accident because it is happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a cold climate happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a cold climate and i happens. It was 100 an accident because it is a cold climate and it| because it is a cold climate and it was very because it is a cold climate and it was very foggy lets speak to bahman kalbasi, our bbc Persian Service correspondent. Just listening to some of those iranians there. The acting from tehran. Very matter of fact and then we see other images of some iranians praying, as asked by the state. find praying, as asked by the state. And man praying, as asked by the state. fific many celebrating. In praying, as asked by the state. Eic many celebrating. In fact, praying, as asked by the state. Elic many celebrating. In fact, we just add images of people celebrating. Very diverging views and Ebrahim Raisi is, based on the numbers by which he got elected, less than 30 of the eligible vote, was the most unpopular president in the last 45 years and his tenure was marked by protests, economic collapse, continued tension in the International Relations so one can only imagine he was more presented and many. There are going to be many different reactions to this, if he is indeed killed in this incident. He is indeed killed in this incident he is indeed killed in this incident. ~. ,. , he is indeed killed in this incident. ,. ,. , incident. We having a couple of issues with incident. We having a couple of issues with your incident. We having a couple of issues with your line incident. We having a couple of issues with your line but incident. We having a couple of issues with your line but lets l incident. We having a couple of i issues with your line but letsjust issues with your line but lets just try one more time. Questions also being asked about the options that are now on the table and the likely strategic next step that the Supreme Leader, like you said, he is the number one Chain Of Command in the country, not the president , what are the likely options could happen next, depending on the final outcome, of course. It next, depending on the final outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi is outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi is out outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi is out of outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi is out of the outcome, of course. If indeed Ebrahim Raisi is out of the picture, the constitution sets a very clear path and that is that his deputy will take over for 50 days and has to be a new election. Of the Supreme Leader go with that . It is anybody� s gas. Leader go with that . It is anybodys as. � , leader go with that . It is anybodys i as, ,. ,. , gas. And they understand that parliament gas. And they understand that parliament is gas. And they understand that parliament is also. Gas. And they understand that parliament is also. I gas. And they understand that. Parliament is also. I understand that parliament is also set to convene it this week. It is not particularly significant . Could that be included in the chain of events . 0h be included in the chain of events . Oh i be included in the chain of events . 0h Ijust Want be included in the chain of events . Oh i just want to apologise. I be included in the chain of events . 0h Ijust Want to apologise. I think we lost our correspondence. We were struggling with that connection but, fortunately, lost him. Just giving a little bit more context there. Of course, you can follow all the latest developing points as they come in, 2a hours a day. There is a live page that is on the bbc news website. A lot of analysis as well that we have been covering and you will find on the website. Earlier, i spoke east, the bbc� s World Service middle east editor and he took us through the main points of today. In through the main points of today. Ii terms of what we know, we are at a stage, this is five or six hours after the news first began to come through and we havent really moved forward that much, recently, in terms of the finding of the helicopter. But we have had and weve had this kind of thing before, is statements being made on state news, and other outlets and then being refuted so not long ago there was a statement quoting a member of the Iranian Red Crescent which is leading the search. More than a0 teams have fanned out across the area where they believe the helicopter is and that quoted this member of the International Red crescent as saying that the site had been found. Now, that obviously come immediately, made people feel that Real Progress has been made. But that has now been taken back so we are in this kind of shadowy information so where things are being said and they are being said by authoritative outlets with iran but we cant necessarily take them hundred percent at value because they contained and we are still very reliant on those sources. Of course, rumours are swirling. There are many people who have been in contact with me and im sure with many other reporters who are engaged with this, quoting sources, but they have said this, that and the other. Nothing, i think, which had gone 100 about what has happened. We still do not know the condition of the people who are on this helicopter. It took a long time to establish, several hours to establish that the helicopter had had a major incident. Also, that come on board, is not just president Ebrahim Raisi by the Foreign Minister. That was then established. Since then, it has been for the two tracks. 0ne established. Since then, it has been for the two tracks. One is the Rescue Operation and where that goes put up huge difficulties because of the Weather Conditions with heavy fog and rain which certainly contributed to the crash on a on the other side, the state, Iranian State essentially asking the people to do all they can in terms of prayers for the safety, the safe return of president Ebrahim Raisi so you have been showing pictures from state to been showing pictures from state to be which rolling, on state television, of iranians out in holy cities giving prayers for exactly that and weve had again, been reporting, the Supreme Leader has made a statement, saying one, the same message, that people should come together in order to wish their very best and pray their very best for a good outcome. But also, and i think this is important, saying that whatever happens, it is not going to affect the running and security of the country. Affect the running and security of the country the country. Lets go back to the withholding the country. Lets go back to the withholding of the country. Lets go back to the withholding of information. The country. Lets go back to the withholding of information. So i the country. Lets go back to the withholding of information. So many points there. Withholding information. Holding it back. A previous guest said there is precedent when it comes to the iranian regime. Teiiii precedent when it comes to the iranian regime. Precedent when it comes to the iranian regime. Tell us more about that. Definitely, iranian regime. Tell us more about that. Definitely, to iranian regime. Tell us more about that. Definitely, to a iranian regime. Tell us more about that. Definitely, to a degree, iranian regime. Tell us more about that. Definitely, to a degree, and i that. Definitely, to a degree, and certainly in the past very much so when we saw that with the downing of the ukrainian airliner when that happened. They were all sorts of reports that are coming in at the time which were contradictory but which sounded like they were official and there was great control official and there was great control of the information that was given and the actual reality, what happened was not emerging for several days and that caused huge criticism of the way that was handled and there is no doubt there is been a response to that in the way the sorts of incidents have handled sense and we are seeing a slightly more open response to this in terms of information that comes out but what is difficult about it is it kind of comes out through these, i mean, there are a number of influential semi official News Agencies in iran that we are very much rely on to an extent to know what is going on and they dont speak always with exactly the same voice. Theyll quote this official and that official and, quite often, those officials will be at odds with what they is what has been happening and what we have not had, beyond what the Ayatollah Khamenei said, which was a more general call for people to wish well and ensure people to wish well and ensure people there is no Security Issue here, but we havent had as a clear statement from the authorities of what they know as happened in Black And White so that that is the ground zero from which you start in terms of where you now expect information to come. There have been sources saying that that was due within the coming hours. It doesnt happen so far and coming hours. It doesnt happen so farand again, the coming hours. It doesnt happen so far and again, the same sources who said that, said bill that back and said that, said bill that back and said that, said bill that back and said that is not necessarily going to happen so we are, as i say, we are Finding Ourway and to happen so we are, as i say, we are Finding Ourwayandi to happen so we are, as i say, we are finding our way and i think the International Community leaders around the world, there is been a lot of sympathy, obviously, pouring in. Offers of help appalling and especially from regional powers, regional countries. But i think they are watching, just as closely, the same reports that were watching from the and trying to get a steer of what is happening. Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has assured the country that there will be no disruption to state affairs. This was his Public Statement about the incident. 0urdear 0ur dear people. They were present here or those who would hear my message later be sure there will be no disruption in the work of the country. Officials have been busy with their work since this evening, after hearing news of the incident. We have given them the necessary recommendations and the affairs of the country are proceeding regularly, better security of the country and the security of the borders as well as the rest of the work that should be done at the National Level by the executive branch. People should not worry. God willing, the president will return to the people and things will be donein to the people and things will be done in the best way. Done in the best way. Well, president done in the best way. Well, president ebrahim done in the best way. Well, president Ebrahim Raisi done in the best way. Well, | president Ebrahim Raisi was returning from a meeting that he had been holding with the president of azerbaijan, inaugurating two dams. The president has been reacting following the news of the crash, saying 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 about the copter 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 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. Lets speak to our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. Hello to you. We have heard so much about president Ebrahim Raisi and the possible ramifications, if the worst news is announced. The Foreign Minister was also on board that helicopter. 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