**Iran President Ebrahim Raisi Disappears After Helicopter Crash**

**By Al Jazeera Staff**

**Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's 63-year-old hard-line religious cleric and close ally of Ayatollah Khamenei, has disappeared after a helicopter crash in eastern Iran.**

According to reports, President Raisi was traveling in a helicopter when it went down in the country's east, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Emergency services have been dispatched to the scene, but no further information is available at this time.

Raisi, who was elected president of Iran in 2021, is widely seen as a protégé of the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has been an outspoken critic of the West and has supported Iran's hard-line stance on issues such as nuclear energy and human rights.

The disappearance of President Raisi has raised concerns about the stability of Iran, which has been facing ongoing political and economic challenges. The country is also grappling with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and is awaiting further details on the fate of President Raisi. The helicopter crash is a significant development that could have major implications for the country and the region.