Iran live updates: Chopper pilots rescued by unmanned boat, official says

CENTCOM said the Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Monday.

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.

Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."

U.S. Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that two U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilots were rescued near the Strait of Hormuz after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Monday evening.

A U.S. official told ABC News that the pilots were rescued by an unmanned surface vessel -- a maritime drone that picked them up and took them to land.

The pilots were rescued within approximately two hours, CENTCOM said in a post to X. The Apache was "patrolling regional waters" when the incident occurred, CENTCOM said. "The cause of the incident is under investigation," it added.

"Rescue efforts were led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from U.S. Air Force and Navy units including U.S. 5th Fleet's Task Force 59," CENTCOM said. Task Force 59 is the Navy's first-ever drone task force.

Task Force 59 uses a variety of unmanned craft. According to a U.S. official, the drone used for the rescue of the Apache pilots had a speed boat-like design.

Two Iranian air defense troops were killed in Israeli attacks on the country on Monday, the semi-official Tasnim News agency reported on Tuesday.

Iran's Emergency Medical Services Organization said on Monday that 15 Iranians were injured in Israeli attacks, 14 people in Mahshahr and one person in Tehran.

Tasnim reported that the funerals of the two troops were killed on Monday will be held in Tehran on Tuesday evening.

President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran are ongoing and that he could have an agreement or "at least an idea by one or two days from now."

"I think it's going well," Trump said, claiming that for now, the blockade of Iranian ports continues to hold "100%."

"We have a good chance of doing it," the president said of a potential deal. "We should be able to do it in one hour if you want to know the truth. I don't think there are any sticking points. I think we're very...close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal."

Trump also said that further military action is possible, but suggested t