A US Army attack helicopter has crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump has confirmed.
It is unclear whether the Apache gunship was shot down or experienced a mechanical problem, a report from the New York Times said.
Speaking to journalists after watching the NBA Finals on Monday night, Trump said: “The pilots are fine. Yeah. Nobody injured. We will issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”
Meanwhile, Trump says a deal with Iran could be made in “two or three days”. He said: “We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb – which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing – they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”
New UpdatesView PostToday08:14 BST
Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, has used a quote from Macbeth to attack US treasury secretary.
He shared a video of Scott Bessent speaking of pride about taking Iranian assets.
And he quoted – “Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe Upon a dwarfish thief.” Shakespeare, Macbeth
Tim HanlonToday08:02 BST
Donald Trump has spoken of a deal being close after Israel and Iran exchanged strikes for the first time since the US agreed to a ceasefire with Tehran two months ago.
Both countries warned that they were ready to launch retaliatory attacks if provoked but they stepped back from further attacks on Monday.
The Iranian military’s joint command issued a statement that said it was halting offensive strikes. The statement said further “aggression and hostile acts” by Israel and its supporters, including in southern Lebanon, would be met with “much more severe and crushing measures than before.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in a videotaped statement, implied that the current round of fighting was over. But he also warned that if Iran “makes the mistake and returns to attacking us, we will respond with force.”
Netanyahu said the latest round of fighting was over(Image: Getty)
The United States wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed still to be entombed in the country after American airstrikes in the 12-day war in 2025.
But Iran is refusing that and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump.
There have been discussions about Iran giving up its enriched uranium to third parties including Russia.
Tim HanlonToday07:50 BST
Donald Trump says that a deal is close and that it will not allow nuclear weapons for Iran.
“We’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal, that will not allow in any way, shape, or form nuclear weapons (for Iran),” he told reporters in New York.
Tim HanlonToday07:46 BST
Donald Trump is optimistic of a deal with Iran saying there is a “good chance”.
The US President thinks an agreement could be made in “two or three days” but he didn’t provide any details on why there was reason for new optimism.
“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” Trump said. “If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”
Trump said two pilots were fine after helicopter crash(Image: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A US Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with Donald Trump saying the two crew members on board were “fine”.
Trump, speaking to journalists at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after watching the NBA Finals on Monday night, acknowledged the crash.
“The pilots are fine. Yeah,” Trump said. “Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”