According to a report by Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister has said that the US Apache helicopter incident over the Strait of Hormuz was not deliberately targeted by Iran, as conflicting accounts continue to emerge over the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, the Iranian official rejected suggestions that Tehran intentionally brought down the aircraft. He stressed that Iran was not responsible for any direct attack on the helicopter, while also noting that in a highly tense and militarised environment such incidents can occur amid heightened risks and possible miscalculations.
The deputy foreign minister suggested that the region’s volatile security situation increases the likelihood of unintended incidents, but maintained that Iran did not carry out or authorise any deliberate strike against the US military aircraft.
His comments come amid heightened scrutiny following reports that the Apache helicopter went down while operating over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor for global energy shipments and a frequent flashpoint for Iran US tensions.
The incident has triggered sharply different interpretations from Washington and Tehran, with investigations still ongoing.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has played down the significance of the incident, describing it as “not a big deal” during an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Trump said the condition of the pilot and crew was stable and sought to minimise concerns about the severity of the event.
“The pilot is fine,” Trump said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the crash were “much different than you think,” although he did not provide further details.
According to earlier statements from US officials, the helicopter crew survived the incident and is currently receiving medical care in stable condition. US Central Command has also confirmed that recovery operations were carried out after the aircraft went down, but said the cause of the incident is still under investigation.
Despite his more subdued public comments, Trump had earlier taken a more forceful tone, posting on his Truth Social platform that the United States “must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” signalling a potential military or strategic response depending on the findings of the investigation.