BREAKING: Helicopter carrying Iranian President crashes

Rescuers search after officials confirm President's helicopter crash

President's condition unknown, search underway

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed while he was visiting a northern region in the country Sunday according to the state-run IRNA news agency. The latest on Raisi's crash: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's condition remains unclear after a helicopter he was in crash-landed.

In Iran's dual political system split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi's 85-year-old mentor Khamenei who has final say on all matters of state. Raisi, 63, is a hardline cleric who has been president since August 2021. He is a close ally of Khamenei and has been described as a potential successor to the supreme leader.

The crash of the helicopter carrying Raisi is a major development in Iranian politics. It is unclear what caused the crash, but it is likely to raise questions about the safety of Iran's leadership and the stability of the country.