TEHRAN — Iran vowed retaliation after a U.S. military strike on Iranian targets linked to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter in the Gulf region.
Iranian officials, including the foreign minister and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps representatives, stated that the country would not leave any attack unanswered following U.S. airstrikes on Tuesday. The strikes targeted Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz in response to the helicopter incident.
"We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently," Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf posted on social media. "Break your commitments, and we'll switch to what we speak best."
The U.S. Army Apache helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday while on patrol. U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, blamed Iran, saying it was shot down or hit by an Iranian drone. The two crew members were rescued.
U.S. Central Command conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian air defenses, ground control stations and surveillance sites. Iran responded with claims of missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, though U.S. officials disputed some of those assertions.
The incidents have tested a fragile ceasefire that took effect in April. Indirect negotiations aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz have faced repeated setbacks amid ongoing tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said foreign military forces near the country's territory "are at constant risk." Details on casualties from the latest exchanges remained unclear, with both sides reporting limited impacts.
The U.S. has maintained a naval presence in the region to enforce measures related to Iranian oil exports. Iran has accused the U.S. and its allies of aggression, while the Trump administration has linked de-escalation to progress in talks.
As of Wednesday, no new direct military actions were reported, but tensions remained high. International mediators, including representatives from Qatar and Pakistan, continued efforts to stabilize the situation. Details on the status of ceasefire negotiations were not immediately available.
