United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that two American helicopter pilots involved in a crash near the Strait of Hormuz are safe, following reports that the crew was successfully rescued after the aircraft went down close to the strategically important waterway.
Trump made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York before departing for Washington, D.C.
“The pilots are fine,” the US president said, adding that no injuries had been reported.
The confirmation followed an earlier report by The New York Times, which stated that personnel aboard a US Apache attack helicopter had been safely recovered after the aircraft crashed near the Iranian-controlled maritime corridor.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the incident, and it remains unclear whether the helicopter was brought down by hostile fire, suffered a technical malfunction, or encountered another operational problem.
As of the time of reporting, neither the White House, the US State Department nor the US Central Command had issued an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, just days after Iran and Israel appeared to scale back direct military confrontations following diplomatic intervention by Washington.
Although both countries recently signalled a temporary halt to hostilities, Iranian officials have warned that military action could resume if Israeli operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon continue.
The fragile calm comes as the United States intensifies efforts to broker a broader agreement with Tehran aimed at reducing months of escalating conflict across the region.
Trump suggested that progress was being made toward a possible understanding with Iran, stating that a framework for an agreement could emerge within days, though he declined to provide further details.
Recent weeks have witnessed repeated exchanges between Iran and Israel, including missile launches and air defence operations.
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Iranian authorities have described their actions as retaliatory responses, while Israeli officials maintain that their operations target strategic military assets.
An Israeli official recently indicated that the country was prepared to continue military operations “for as long as it takes,” while Iranian representatives have issued similar warnings, signalling readiness for a prolonged confrontation if necessary.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic discussions with Washington remain ongoing despite what he described as deep mistrust between both nations.
Reports also indicate that Trump held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, during which the United States reportedly urged restraint and cautioned against further escalation.
Meanwhile, Iran has continued to assert pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil and shipping routes, while Washington maintains restrictions on certain Iranian maritime activities.
Investigations into the helicopter crash are ongoing, and US officials have indicated that additional information will be released once the cause of the incident has been established.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of global security concerns due to its strategic importance to international energy supplies and regional stability.