the iranian nation should people. the iranian nation should rest assured there will be no disruption to the running of the country. disruption to the running of the country. meanwhile, iranians have been urged to pray for their leader, gathering in droves in the president's home city, following pleas a major search operation is taking place in the mountains of northwest iran, where a helicopter carrying president ebrahim raisi has gone missing. these images show the president and his entourage in the helicopter before it went down. the foreign minister, hossein amirabdollahian, was also on board. president raisi had been travelling back from a trip to neighbouring azerbaijan. rescue teams are looking for

the aircraft in rain and thick fog. iran's supreme leader, ayatollah khamenei has assured the country that there will be no disruption to state affairs. here's a brief bit of what he said in his first public statement about the. translation: may god return the president to the people. i the iranian nation should rest assured they will be no disruption to the running of the country. the reaction to the crash. i the reaction to the crash. i have the reaction to the crash. i have the 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. it the government and the people. if anything happens it will take time to replace... it will be chaotic. it

to replace... it will be chaotic. [it was to replace... it will be chaotic. was 100% an to replace... it will be chaotic. it was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate _ was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate and — was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate and it — was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate and it was _ was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate and it was foggy. _ was 100% an accident. it was a cold climate and it was foggy. lrani - was100% an accident. it was a cold climate and it was foggy.— climate and it was foggy. irani and s-ueakin climate and it was foggy. irani and speaking in _ climate and it was foggy. irani and speaking in tehran _ climate and it was foggy. irani and speaking in tehran reacting - climate and it was foggy. irani and speaking in tehran reacting to - speaking in tehran reacting to today's while a major search operation is taking place, the bbc�*sjon donnison has the latest. 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. as we heard, president raisi was returning from a meeting with azerbaijan's president ilham aliyev, when reports of the crash emerged.

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. some more reactions are coming in. turkey's 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 a mountain

rescue team to iran, as we were hearing a short time ago. we are going to discussjust hearing a short time ago. we are going to discuss just how the news has been unfolding today. with me now is our news correspondent, azadeh moshiri. you have been here from the start of this new story. in terms of trying to make sure that the bbc gets the most accurate news to our viewers, i wonder if you could just explain how tricky that can be with the iranian regime? let'sjust tricky that can be with the iranian regime? let's just start off with the news agencies. who controls them and how open are they? are and how open are they? are deservedly _ and how open are they? are deservedly good _ and how open are they? fife: deservedly good point because all the information that we have been relying on, that we have been reporting on, is mostly coming from state media and you are asking about those news agencies. they are often either state media or semi—official media, sesame official state media. those are the times we keep throwing

because they are closely with the islamic republic. now, of course, when you have an event like this, that often means that the amount of information that is going to trickle out is going to be done, most likely, very strategically. and given that iran considers foreign media outlets hostile, it is very difficult to get accurate information. in fact, difficult to get accurate information. infact, only difficult to get accurate information. in fact, only today, someone was arrested because they were said to be a foreign agent posing as a book store seller who was co—operating with foreign media. again, the word foreign media is one that rattles the islamic republic. even when you see uprisings or any form of dissent in iran they often cite is most likely foreign agents. any foreign media is reporting this, the basis of foreign states, encouraging them to do so. so in terms of the information, we are slightly hampered there. that is why it has taken hours to get these

pieces of information coming in. having said that, the fact that we still don't know the condition of president ebrahim raisi is very significant because that is a choice thatis significant because that is a choice that is either that they really don't know, that the rescuers, given the conditions, given the fog, the rough hillsides, the mountainous terrain and now the fact that it is cold and it is dark and iran haven't been able to reach him, or it could be that information simply hasn't been chosen to be shared. taste be that information simply hasn't been chosen to be shared. we are rel in: on been chosen to be shared. we are relying on those _ been chosen to be shared. we are relying on those agencies - been chosen to be shared. we are relying on those agencies right - been chosen to be shared. we are l relying on those agencies right now. do iranians believe the foreign media foreign states line, but that is fed to them? is media foreign states line, but that is fed to them?— media foreign states line, but that is fed to them? is probably a mixed icture. is fed to them? is probably a mixed picture- when _ is fed to them? is probably a mixed picture. when you _ is fed to them? is probably a mixed picture. when you look _ is fed to them? is probably a mixed picture. when you look at _ is fed to them? is probably a mixed picture. when you look at the - picture. when you look at the protests, the scale of them, that were nationwide, and how fierce that crackdown had to be in response, it is a sign that not everyone believes the government line, or trusts the

islamic republic. it was, and we have reported this, at the bbc, the greatest, one of the greatest threats that this decades long regime had everfaced, and now, in the midst of all this domestic turbulence, you have the president's health in question. his safety in question. but again, i want to caveat. we do not know what has happened to him and by the president of iran is an important role, the ayatollah is the one who calls the shots. president ebrahim raisi is almost at the outward facing public image of the ayatollah's wishes, the extension. and he is the one he was pushing this message of continuity, the fact that the work of iran will continue. the work of the government will continue, no matter what. continue. the work of the government will continue, no matterwhat. even though president ebrahim raisi is considered one of his proteges, could have been his successor, but this is not a fatal blow to the

regime. 50 this is not a fatal blow to the reaime. , :, ~ this is not a fatal blow to the reaime. , w , regime. so 'ust taking the number one and regime. so just taking the number one and two. _ regime. so just taking the number one and two, so _ regime. so just taking the number one and two, so we _ regime. so just taking the number one and two, so we have - regime. so just taking the number one and two, so we have the - regime. so just taking the number- one and two, so we have the supreme leader, we have the president and, like you said, it is important to stress, we don't know the outcome of that crash, as yet. but everybody is talking about possible scenarios, thatis talking about possible scenarios, that is what everyone is in a holding pattern about. would there, could there possibly be the threat of a vacuum in iran? it could there possibly be the threat of a vacuum in iran?— could there possibly be the threat of a vacuum in iran? it would likely be very controlled. _ of a vacuum in iran? it would likely be very controlled. there - of a vacuum in iran? it would likely be very controlled. there is - of a vacuum in iran? it would likely be very controlled. there is a - be very controlled. there is a protocol in the constitution and from what we gather, the vice president would then take over. but on an interim basis. there would also be a judiciary and legislative counsel who would have run the government and, in 50 days, there would be elections. now, if you look at how elections have been taking place in iran in recent years, that was closely controlled, several

moderate reformist candidates were barred and disqualified from running. there was a record low turnout and then their parliamentary elections had record low turnout so the likelihood is, especially when you're talking about trying to real stability and the message that we just got in about the work of the government continuing, should anything of happened to president ebrahim raisi, which again, we don't know if anything has happened, likely that process would be closely controlled and executed on a schedule. controlled and executed on a schedule-— controlled and executed on a schedule. :, :, , , , schedule. one of our guests this evenin: schedule. one of our guests this evening said _ schedule. one of our guests this evening said that _ schedule. one of our guests this evening said that one _ schedule. one of our guests this evening said that one of - schedule. one of our guests this evening said that one of his - evening said that one of his greatest concerns would be the impact of the repercussions of iran losing its foreign minister because, of course, he was on board with the president. that in itself has been questioned how such high profile individuals, having them in one aircraft. in terms of foreign policy, where is everyone on that?

what progress has been made of what manoeuvrings, diplomatic manoeuvring is? the fact that he was heading to azerbaijan, that does tell us something, doesn't it? they're warming their relations with their neighbours? l warming their relations with their neighbours?— neighbours? i mean, it is quite a time for something _ neighbours? i mean, it is quite a time for something like - neighbours? i mean, it is quite a time for something like this - neighbours? i mean, it is quite a time for something like this to i time for something like this to happen. of course, given the war in the middle east, fact that they have been cooperating, informing these alliances, to gather some momentum against israel, of course, your foreign minister is important in that sense. they are still indirect talks and negotiations going on in the background when it comes to the nuclear deal as well. which has completely, you know, stored, as far as we know. this negotiation still go on and the foreign minister is a key part of those negotiations. but again, ithink key part of those negotiations. but again, i think it is worth remembering, that the supreme leader really has all the power. the president, the foreign minister, no one can do anything without his say

so and they had to follow his wishes. even the former president, who proceeded president ebrahim raisi, he was seen as more of a moderate candidate than president ebrahim raisi. we didn't get on with the supreme leader. they were known to have clashed. part of the reason ayatollah khamenei wanted someone who he really trusted in that presidential role, even though they clash, he did not have much power. and so, yes, of course, stability is important when you have such a fraught situation in the middle east, when it has such high stakes for iran, but, again, the idea that the continuity, the theme of continuity there, that is not really under threat. a, continuity there, that is not really under threat.— under threat. a lot of people will be tunin: under threat. a lot of people will be tuning into — under threat. a lot of people will be tuning into the _ under threat. a lot of people will be tuning into the news - under threat. a lot of people will be tuning into the news and - under threat. a lot of people will be tuning into the news and this| be tuning into the news and this will be top of the knees. it is going to be everywhere in terms of social media. not everyone can put iran into context. why on earth are we talking about iran? why is it

so... why is it so important? just put it into context for us? a lot people want to know what happened in the 1979 but iran of today, why does it matter? , , :, :, , it matter? president ebrahim raisi as art of it matter? president ebrahim raisi as part of that _ it matter? president ebrahim raisi as part of that whole _ it matter? president ebrahim raisi as part of that whole story - it matter? president ebrahim raisi as part of that whole story as - it matter? president ebrahim raisij as part of that whole story as well. if you want to go as far back as 1979, the islamic revolution which toppled the monarchy. president ebrahim raisi participated in those protests. now, of course, there is always a debate about what it was like before 1979. but we do know is that this has been a dictatorial, authoritative regime. the crackdown had been fierce. we know, according to agencies that, in these last protests in 2022, hundreds were killed. the crackdown was so fierce that we have seen dozens go to prison and some be sentenced to death. we know that if you were, their sentences were carried out. though sentences are still happening now. and people are still being

arrested in terms of their role. so, in terms of human rights, the picture is not great inside of iran. but if you take a bigger look at their role within the region, again going back to that war in the middle east, what is going on in gaza right now, hamas, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation by several western governments, is supported, backed by iran. weapons are reported the sense to hamas. you also have the sense to hamas. you also have the cuties who, of course, cast all that trouble in the red sea amidst this war, escalating those concerns and again backed by iran. his brother backed, by iran. they are not a singular country. they have arms and so many of the conflicts we see. even the war in ukraine. they supplied rents. why do they do it?

well, they are sanctioned by the united states. they have been enriching uranium which has been growing. they, this is a common gripe that some iranians have that amid so much economic instability within the country, they are using so much of their resources on these regional wars. there are plenty of reasons. it is a sheer, islamic republic. there are these religious aspects to some of what they do. these religious wars. they, like a hamas, do not accept the existence of israel as a state. and they see it as their mission to, in order to protect themselves but also extend that power, get involved and there are these new alliances that russia is an ally as well and they want to support that i live.— support that i live. they have certainly come _ support that i live. they have certainly come out _ support that i live. they have certainly come out to - support that i live. they have certainly come out to pledge | support that i live. they have - certainly come out to pledge their support with this helicopter crash. ijust support with this helicopter crash. i just got some shots here support with this helicopter crash. ijust got some shots here of support with this helicopter crash. i just got some shots here of the truly horrific conditions that the

search and rescue teams are having to contend with. really inclement weather. very high, which only exacerbates the code now it is dark of course. forested area. boulder is about to 70 metres. i've seen reported in this particular area. i wonder if we could just do, i know you have been following and monitoring things so closely. in terms of commentary on social media, and reaction to this, of ordinary iranians, what have you picked up? well, it is important to say that social media is social media. it's hard to pick up the general mood. you have got state media, which is showing these pictures of so many people praying. we had a guest earlier today saying, someone who worked with the resume, advise them

previously on foreign diplomatic treaties and agreements. he said, oh, you will see everyone turn out of this turned out to be the case, turns out that he has died, you will see wall—to—wall coverage of so many people coming out and praying. this will devastate the nation. but on social media you see a lot of iranians actually disagreeing, celebrating the moment, exchanging comments and jokes and congratulations. the picture is mixed and i think that is very reflective of the fact that not only, of course, other people who have been standing up to this regime, but president ebrahim raisi himself, with his own record at the judiciary as a highly divisive figure. judiciary as a highly divisive fiaure. , :, , :, :, :, figure. tensions with iran, one of the analysts _ figure. tensions with iran, one of the analysts we _ figure. tensions with iran, one of the analysts we were _ figure. tensions with iran, one of the analysts we were speaking i figure. tensions with iran, one of| the analysts we were speaking to, thatis the analysts we were speaking to, that is one of the things he's going to be watching very closely, there are factions within iranians political life. just to what extent

is that allowed in the country? that is that allowed in the country? that is a aood is that allowed in the country? that is a good question. _ is that allowed in the country? that is a good question. if— is that allowed in the country? “last is a good question. if you look at him one back�*s last election, people were banned from running, disqualified. it is not really allowed by their heated discussions in the irani in parliament and so, in the irani in parliament and so, in some ways, there is discourse. but it is still happily controlled country and it is also a system that is at an important inflection point right now because the supreme leader is in his mid—805. there've been reports that he is ill and so the talk succession has been going on in the background. now, there is his son who is someone he was a potential successor but so was ebrahim raisi. again, he saw him as a mentor and so it is a blow in that sense, as well.— a mentor and so it is a blow in that sense, as well. thank you very much indeed. sense, as well. thank you very much indeed- thank— sense, as well. thank you very much indeed. thank you _ sense, as well. thank you very much indeed. thank you very _ sense, as well. thank you very much indeed. thank you very much. - borzou daragahi is a seniorfellow at the atlantic council

and an iranian journalist. i spoke to him about the ongoing rescue operation. interestingly, the law, if it happens this way, the president will have a far less of an impact actually than the loss potentially of the foreign minister, abdollahian, because the president really is basically a in some ways a carbon copy of the supreme leader. as shown, there's never been any kind of distance or air between the supreme leader and the president on policy issues. he'lljust be replaced with someone else. however, abdollahian, the foreign minister, he's been involved in the nuclear issue. he's been involved in negotiating various regional issues, including with saudi arabia and other gulf states and so on. so there will be a bit of a. it'll take time and it will be a little bit unpredictable whether the next person who becomes the foreign minister will be able to get up to speed in time. well, of course, the likes of

the united states will be watching things very, very closely. how could this impact their foreign policy with iran and and the wider middle east as well? but as i said, the issue of not having a foreign minister has been one, that having a foreign minister who's competent at least has been one that has dogged iran over the years. excuse me, i'm in paris, there's a thunderstorm there happening. but yes, something that has been an issue forfor iran in the past. having a foreign minister doesn't speak english, is not savvy, and so on. someone working on the nuclear issue who knows what they're talking about has been a problem for iran in the past. and not having someone right now, being forced to find someone to replace abdollahian on being getting that person up to speed will be an issue for iran. it has been pointed out and questioned, hasn't it, that it was very strange? we've actually got an image of we believe it could be,

but we understand it is one of the three helicopters that were part of this delegation convoy. the question was, why were such high profile individuals on the one the one aircraft, and how does that strike you? i mean, it is somewhat, i guess, curious that it happened this way, but, you know, the logistics and so on. there's a long history of iranian air and aviation vehicles getting involved in accidents. there's a lot of questions about the competence of the iranian technical people. you know, there's iranians who go abroad and theyjoin nasa and work for other governments, technical and and and high profile engineering organisations. and you're left in iran with people who are perhaps not the best qualified for this kind of thing. and that includes making a decision

on which important high profile people will be on which helicopter. well, just speaking to my colleague there, azadeh, and she was saying, in terms of continuity, it may not be an issue because the constitution is very stable within iran. is that something you would agree with? i think continuity will not be an issue. i think that iran has so weakened the president of the country that it basically is a rubber stamp right now for the decisions of the supreme leader and the revolutionary guard. so i don't think there's going to be any kind of crisis in the country, but it will be a problem on getting someone up to speed on the foreign disputes. 0kay. justjust turning back to the sanctions, of course, and the safety record, i mean, clearly, those sanctions have been effective. sanctions have been effective. of course, they've they've heard the country. the question is, have they weakened

the islamic republic? and, you know, that's a that's an open question, in my opinion. many of the sanctions have, yes, in fact, diminished the capacity of iran to, for example, have a kind of advanced and cutting edge aviation program. but have they made the government any weaker? i don't think so. what do you make of the voices of support coming in from allies and also regional neighbors? the latest we've got here, of course, is russia ready to extend help? saudi arabia also on standby to help iran. yeah. i mean, saudi arabia and iran are involved in a rapprochement. this is not a political issue in many respects. as you noted earlier in your report, even the eu is offering its mapping services. this is a, you know, a death of someone who is a figurehead, perhaps potentially a death of someone who's a figurehead

in the country. this is a kind of universal issue of making sure that all that can be done to save these people if they are saveable, is done. just returning back to hierarchy within the country. you're saying, you know, away from immediate the immediate iranian borders, it's the foreign minister possibly who or the loss of a foreign minister. should that be the case? that could have a greater impact on the country itself. i wonder if we could just remind our viewers who ebrahim raisi is and how he came to power. ibrahim raisi was a mid—ranking cleric who was essentially in the supreme leader, ali khamenei. his inner circle would be basically one of his close allies. and he became president after all of the reformist and moderate candidates were pretty much disqualified in an election that many considered engineered and many voters stayed away from.

we are continuing our coverage of the search for the helicopter carrying the iranians president and foreign minister put went missing as it made its way back from the border with azerbaijan. the fear is, at iran itself has said, that they are at risk. we continue to monitor the situation. those are the latest pictures of search and rescue. this is bbc news. good evening. it really has been a weekend of contrast. once again, we've had a few storms develop through the afternoon, fewer than we had yesterday, but 2a in the warm sunshine. and it should stay warm and dry to start for many of us. but it will turn cooler through the week as wet and windy conditions arrive. and of course, it hasn't been warm sunshine for all we've had stubborn sea fog around the north sea coast,

some of the irish sea coast as well. so just a cool 12 today and then that sea fog mist and low cloud will return back inland as we go through the night. so some fog again around tomorrow morning, particularly across eastern areas. cooler, slightly fresher than it was last night. could be some fog further west as well. so all in all, i think quite a grey and misty start for many of us on our monday morning. once again, the fog and that low cloud retreats back to the coast and we should see less of it through monday than we've seen during the weekend. and the same goes for the irish sea coasts, but we could still have one or two showers, slow moving thunderstorms as we go through the afternoon, because once again, in that sunshine, temperatures will leap up to the high teens and low 20s. they're a little bit lower temperatures than they've been today, just because it'll be a chillier start for some of us. and then through monday evening

and overnight, we'll probably pick up more mist and low cloud once again and perhaps a few more showers will come into eastern areas. and we've got this weather system approaching to the west. so a slightly chillier night. again, look for some fives actually as we start tuesday morning. not really a frost level worry, but certainly chillier than it has been now. tuesday looks like a slightly more unsettled day, more showers around, if you like, particularly for the west, northern ireland, as that weather front comes in, those showers turn thundery and also central and northern areas or sorry, eastern and northern areas. that means that with a bit more cloud around, there might well be temperatures a little bit lower and one or two potentially around for the chelsea flower show. of course, that's coming up through this week, a little bit drier towards the end of the week. the reason for the unsettled weather tuesday night into wednesday's, this area of low pressure approaching for the east as well as weather fronts approaching from the west. all in all, it looks like it'll turn wetter and windier for the midweek period. so a rather unsettled looking picture by that stage. perhaps fewer showers friday and saturday, but still a rather unsettled looking picture with temperatures closer to average.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a helicopter carrying iran's president ebrahim raisi and iranian foreign minister hossein amir—abdollahian has been involved in an accident. state media is reporting, the helicopter — one of three travelling in a convoy — made a "hard landing" after it got

into difficulties in heavy fog and poor weather conditions. interior minister ahmad vahidi said rescuers were still trying to reach the site due to those difficult weather conditions. an unnamed iranian official has told the reuters news agency, the lives of the president raisi and iran's foreign minister are at risk. meanwhile, iranians have been urged to pray for the health of their leaders. they've been gathering in droves in the president's home city — following pleas from state media. iran's supreme leader, ayatollah khamenei has assured the country that there will be no disruption to state affairs. a major search operation is taking place in the mountains of northwest iran, where a helicopter carrying president ebrahim raisi has gone missing. these images show the president and his entourage in the helicopter before it went down.