Iran’s foreign minister says foreign forces operating near Iranian territory face “constant risk” and should leave to reduce the chance of accidental incidents. Abbas Araqchi made the remarks in posts on X, warning that forces in proximity could be affected by “human errors,” “plain accidents,” or being caught in crossfire. He argues that the Strait of Hormuz is shared between Iran and Oman and is “NOT international waters,” adding to the rationale for his call for withdrawal.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump said Iran is responsible for the downing of a US Apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight. Trump said Washington must respond to the incident, according to the reports. Araqchi’s statement frames the situation as a risk-management issue and calls for foreign forces to depart rather than remain in areas near Iran’s territory and surrounding waters. The Iranian government does not, in these reports, provide evidence specific to the helicopter incident, while the US president attributes the downing to Iran.
