Iran has admitted that the life of President Raisi is “at risk” after his heliocopter went down in a mountainous area of the country this morning. Previously authorities only acknowledged that the helicopter had made a “hard landing”.

Rescuers are trying to get to the site of the crash but their efforts are being severely hampered by bad weather and foggy conditions.

Iranian state media called on the public to pray for Raisi and the Foreign Minister, who was said to be in the same helicoper as the President.

Tasnim News said on Telegram: “An accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president in East Azerbaijan. Some news reports indicate that the helicopter carrying Ayatollah Raisi, the president, has had an accident in East Azerbaijan.

“However, some of the president’s companions in this helicopter have managed to contact the centre, and thus the hope for the end of this incident without loss of life has increased.”

The helicopter was one of three travelling in a convoy, Tasnim reported, with the other two reaching their destination.