United States President, Donald Trump, on Tuesday pledged a response after accusing Iran of shooting down a US military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over the fragile ceasefire between both countries.
The US president made the declaration hours after saying negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East conflict were nearing completion.
In Iran, parliament speaker and chief negotiator with Washington, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned the United States against failing to honour its obligations under ongoing talks.
The exchange of warnings came a day after Iran and Israel suspended hostilities that had threatened to reignite the regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
In a statement, Trump said he had been informed “that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz”.
Although the helicopter’s crew escaped unharmed, Trump said the attack would not go unanswered.
“the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he said.
Ghalibaf also delivered a stern message to Washington on Tuesday.
“We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we’ll switch to what we speak best. You ride the horse you saddled!” he said on X.
The Apache helicopter is the second manned US aircraft confirmed to have been brought down by Iran during the conflict. Earlier in April, Washington acknowledged the loss of an F-15 fighter jet.
The latest incident has added pressure to an already delicate ceasefire that has been in place since April 8, as both sides continue efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the war.
Iran has maintained that any permanent end to the conflict must also include a ceasefire in Lebanon, which became involved after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on March 2.
Israel responded with a large-scale air campaign and ground offensive that have left more than 3,600 people dead. Despite an existing truce, clashes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have continued.
(AFP)
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