TEHRAN, May 20 (MNA) – Issuing a message, Russia’s Foreign Minister said that the Russian Federation expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the helicopter accident and all the friendly people of Iran.

"We will always remember these prominent political figures as truly nationalist individuals who resolutely defended the interests of their country and sacrificed their lives in the service of their country," Lavrov said.

"Iran's president and foreign minister have always been known as true friends in Russia, and their role in strengthening cooperation and mutual trust between Russia and Iran was valuable," he added.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have martyred in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation crashed on Sunday in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province.

It was transporting Raeisi, Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem , and a member of the president’s bodyguard team Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot and crew were also among others on board the chopper.

President Raeisi and his accompanying delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

MNA/