Alongside the President, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, local officials and bodyguards are also believed to be on board. Mr Abdollahian, 60, has been Foreign Minister since 2021 and had previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs. 

He is known for his support of the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East, which aims to counter the strength of Israel and influence of the US in the region. 

He had spoken to James Cleverly, who was then serving as British Foreign Secretary, late last year to discuss the situation in Gaza, reportedly advising Mr Cleverly to “view the regional developments realistically”, according to a readout from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. He also visited London in 2015, then the most senior Iranian official to have visited the UK in a decade.