WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Iran shot down a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz and warned that Washington would respond to the incident.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the helicopter was on patrol over the strategic waterway when it was allegedly struck.
“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.
He said two pilots were involved and both survived without injury. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 9, 2026
Earlier on Tuesday, the US military said two crew members had been safely rescued after an Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a US Navy surface drone located and recovered the two crew members from the water. No injuries were reported.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026
The incident took place shortly after tensions between Iran and Israel eased following a brief escalation in the region, drawing renewed attention to security conditions in the Gulf.
Tensions escalated on Sunday when Israel bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut despite an ongoing ceasefire, prompting Iran to launch missiles toward northern Israel in retaliation.
Israel subsequently carried out airstrikes against Iran, while Tehran responded with additional missile launches.
Iran’s military said early Monday that it was halting attacks on Israel while warning of a “crushing” response if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued. Israeli media, citing unnamed officials, reported that Israel had agreed to halt airstrikes on Iran.
Trump says Iran deal could be reached within days
Earlier, Trump said the US-Iran negotiations are near a breakthrough after the Israel-Iran pause was reported. “We’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” Trump said.
“We could have at least an idea one or two days from now,” the US President said.
Trump, speaking to reporters after returning from an NBA Finals game, said both sides had agreed through US mediation to halt further escalation and suggested that a deal could be concluded within “two or three days”.
He described the process as being in its final phase and called the expected outcome a “very, very good deal”.
Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts remain active to resolve the US-Iran conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said talks were continuing.
Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently visited Tehran to deliver a “special letter” to Iran’s leadership before returning to Islamabad.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained “at the negotiating table”, signalling continued engagement despite escalating tensions.
Vance says long-term deal with Iran in US interest
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has said that Israel and the United States have “a lot of shared interests, but we also have some situations where our interests diverge” as he discussed a potential peace deal with Iran.
“Thanks to what’s happened over the last few months, but really over the last year and a half, we’ve created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think he’s right – that we can get the long-term settlement to Iran’s nuclear deal,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News.
“Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that, but fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America. So we’re going to keep on pursuing it, because that’s what the president of the United States was elected to do. That’s what we have to do in order to properly serve the American people,” Vance said.
Vance said that the US will continue to seek an agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme regardless of whatever position Israel takes.
