Rescue crews are searching a new area to locate Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter after a Turkish drone identified a heat source suspected to be the wreckage. 

The Akinci UAV drone has shared the coordinates of the possible crash site with Iranian authorities, Anadolu news agency reported.

The helicopter, carrying the president and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountainous terrain in heavy fog. 

Rescue teams have been faced with a number of difficulties, including heavy rain, fog and darkness. 

An official said the lives of Mr Raisi and Mr Amirabdollahian were “at risk following the helicopter crash”, which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest.

“We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Follow the latest updates below.