DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump saying the two crew members on board were 鈥渇ine鈥� after the incident involving the strategic waterway, which remains under a chokehold by Iran.
What caused the crash remained unclear Tuesday morning in the Middle East, which was still reeling after Iran and Israel exchanged fire the previous day in the biggest blow yet to the straining ceasefire in the Iran war. Iranian state media, relying on foreign reporting, acknowledged the crash without elaborating.
Since the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Feb. 28, the war has , driven up energy prices around the world and made many basics, , more expensive. Officials have been unable to turn into a deal to permanently end the conflict.
Trump, speaking to journalists at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after watching the NBA Finals on Monday night, acknowledged the crash.
鈥淭he pilots are fine. Yeah,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淣obody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.鈥�
The New York Times first reported that a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the strait in unclear circumstances. The U.S. military’s Central Command and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Apache helicopters have been a key asset for the American military as it enforces a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers, seeking to pressure Tehran into reaching a deal. The helicopters also have been used by the United Arab Emirates to shoot down Iranian drones during the Iran war.
Trump insists an Iran deal is coming
Trump also expressed renewed optimism over negotiations with Iran.
鈥淲e have a good chance鈥� of signing a deal in 鈥渢wo or three days,” Trump said. But he didn鈥檛 provide any details on why there was reason for new optimism.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,鈥� the president said. 鈥淚f we go and bomb 鈥� which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing 鈥� they鈥檒l have nothing left whatsoever. But you won鈥檛 have the strait open for months.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚f we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don鈥檛.鈥�
Mediators, led predominantly by Pakistan, have been trying to weeks to get a deal across the line. However, both Iran and the U.S. have taken hard-line positions.
The U.S. 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.
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Price reported from New York. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
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