INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in
heavy fog, an Iranian official told Reuters, and rescuers were making their way to the site of the incident.The official said the lives of
official, speaking on condition of anonymity.The bad weather was complicating rescue efforts, the state news agency IRNA reported
rescue operations.State TV stopped all its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country and, in a corner of
the screen, live coverage of rescue teams deployed on foot in the mountainous area in heavy fog.The rescue teams were expected to reach the
site of the crash later on Sunday evening, state TV reported.Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a
tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.In
president who has the final say on all major policies.But many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed his 85-year-old mentor,
brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan
inaugurate the Qiz-Qalaisi Dam, a joint project.Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state TV only that one of the helicopters in a group of
three had come down in the incident, and that authorities were awaiting further details.Source: Reuters--Agencies
