President Donald Trump has said the United States “must respond” after blaming Iran for shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that has further escalated already rising tensions in the Gulf region.

The helicopter went down early Tuesday off the coast of Oman during a patrol mission, according to U.S. Central Command. Both crew members were rescued safely after an unmanned vessel located them in the water, officials said.

Trump, writing on social media, said military officials informed him that Iran had shot down a “highly sophisticated Apache helicopter” and confirmed that the two service members were unharmed. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he said.

Iran has not officially confirmed involvement in the incident. However, the event comes amid heightened military and political tensions in the region, where a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been repeatedly tested by fresh exchanges of fire.

The U.S. military said the cause of the crash is under investigation. Officials described the rescue operation as the first known use of a drone boat to recover downed aircrew in the area, carried out by an unmanned vessel operated under the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59.

Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in a post on X, warned that Tehran could respond forcefully if its commitments are broken, saying Iran was prepared to use “other languages” beyond diplomacy.

The incident also comes as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to prevent further escalation. Mediators, including Pakistan, have been working to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Before the helicopter incident, Trump had expressed optimism about a potential deal with Iran, saying an agreement could be reached within days, though he provided no details.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, and tensions in the area have contributed to rising energy prices and broader economic uncertainty as the conflict in the region continues.