President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States would “respond” by accusing Iran of shooting down an Apache helicopter patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.
The two pilots involved in the attack “are safe and sound,” Trump wrote in a statement. Truth on social media. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
Trump did not specify what form the US response would take. But his post signaled that the conflict with Iran was about to escalate once again, despite him. request hours earlier that an agreement with Tehran could be concluded as early as this week.
The two sides are in the final stages of a “very, very good deal” that will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately upon signing,” Trump said after leaving an NBA Finals game in New York on Monday night.
Such an agreement could be signed “in two or three days,” Trump added. But he has repeatedly asserted throughout the war, which passed the 100-day milestone on Sunday, that the United States and Iran were close to signing a deal. No agreement was reached.
US Central Command revealed earlier Tuesday that the US AH-64 Apache crashed “near the coast of Oman” on Monday evening (ET).
Centcom did not initially blame Iran for the destruction, saying in a statement that the incident was under investigation.
The two soldiers involved in the accident were rescued in about two hours by the US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, according to the Centcom message.
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