Russia ready to help Iran in helicopter crash - foreign ministry says

Russia is ready to extend help to Iran in connection with the crash of a helicopter carrying the country's president, Ebrahim Raisi, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

"Russia is ready to extend all necessary help in the search for the missing helicopter and the investigation of the reasons for the incident," Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Zakharova said Russia was closely following rescue efforts to locate the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, adding: "We sincerely hope that they are alive and that nothing is threatening their lives and health."

Russia and Iran have been developing political, trade and military ties, with Iranian authorities saying military cooperation with Russia is expanding day by day.