Anthony Albanese urges de-escalation following Iran helicopter crash

Anthony Albanese says he is monitoring reports of a helicopter that crashed with Iran’s president on board.

The helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian crashed as it was crossing mountainous terrain in heavy fog.

A rescue operation is under way but has been hampered by poor weather.

The prime minister said he been keeping track of news of the helicopter crash.

“We’ve seen the reports, there’s little more that I can add to those reports at this time,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.

“The reports indicated that a helicopter carrying the Iranian president and the foreign minister has not arrived at its destination.”

Mr Albanese indicated Australia had been working with allied countries on efforts to de-escalate tensions in Iran in an effort to prevent conflict in the Middle East from spreading.

Iran and Israel have traded missiles in recent months as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been launching strikes on targets in the nearby Red Sea.

“We’re very much focused on de-escalation, we want to continue to work as we have been, with the international community to increase pressure on Iran to cease its destabilising actions,” Mr Albanese said.

“We have been very much focused on wanting to see the conflict in the Middle East to stop it from spreading and to see de-escalation in region.”