Moscow, May 19: Russia is ready to provide the necessary assistance in finding the missing helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and investigating the causes of the accident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Iranian media reported that a helicopter carrying Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and their companions had suffered an accident in northwestern Iran. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi later confirmed the accident. Rescue teams have arrived at the scene, but the search operation is complicated by tough weather conditions, reports said.

“We are closely monitoring the emerging information about the fate of the passengers of the third helicopter, among whom were high-ranking representatives of Iran, including President Raisi. We sincerely hope that they are alive, and their lives and health are not in danger,” the spokeswoman told Sputnik.

“Russia is ready to provide all necessary assistance in finding the missing helicopter and investigating the causes of the incident,” Zakharova noted.

UNI