Tehran: In a concerning development, a helicopter belonging to the Iranian army's Air Force crashed on Tuesday in the central province of Isfahan, killing at least two people, state media reported.

"Unfortunately, the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the incident," state TV said without specifying the cause of the crash.

The development comes as US‑Iran tensions escalate amid widespread reporting that a US strike on Iran could be imminent, even as diplomacy continues.

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In recent days, President Donald Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year and has repeatedly threatened further military action if talks fail to produce a replacement deal for the one he scrapped in 2018, has presided over a significant deployment of US forces to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers and numerous warships and warplanes.

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Iranian officials have warned that any US attack, even a limited one, would be treated as an “act of aggression” and met with a “ferocious” response.

Despite the heightened military posture, diplomatic efforts are continuing. Both sides are due to resume nuclear negotiations on Thursday in Geneva, with officials from Oman confirming the next round of talks is scheduled for later this week and underscoring hopes for progress.