TEHRAN: Russia will send two advanced aircraft equipped with special helicopters and 50 professional mountain rescuers to join Iranian teams in their ongoing search operations for a crashed helicopter carrying the Iranian president and his entourage.

"In line with the order of the Russian president, two advanced airplanes with special helicopters will be sent to Tabriz with 50 professional mountain rescuers within an hour," an aide to the Russian president, Igor Levitin told Iran's First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhbar in a phone call on Monday.

"On Monday morning, two Russian helicopters will depart for Tabriz from Armenia," he added, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Levitin emphasised that "the Russian government and Putin himself are concerned about the health of President Raisi and his accompanying team and express their greetings, respect and sincere sympathy with the leadership and the great nation of Iran at this time."

In the telephone conversation, Mokhbar, for his part, expressed gratitude for the support of Russia's president and government to the Islamic Republic at this time of urgency.

  - AFP