U.S. Central Command said Tuesday evening that it began “self-defense strikes” on Iran in response to the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter on Monday.

The latest exchange could risk military escalation with Iran even as President Trump is seeking a deal to end the war.

As U.S. Central Command began strikes on Iran in response to the downing of an American helicopter, President Trump told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: “This is a response to what they did…with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is.”

President Trump earlier said Iranians had shot down the helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The two pilots were uninjured.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s threat on X, saying “foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk” from accidents or crossfire, and “we prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too.”

Mr. Trump said earlier that efforts to reach a deal with Iran were in their “final throes,” with a deal possible in “two or three days.” It is unclear where negotiations stand following the helicopter incident.

It is not yet clear what the U.S. is targeting. CENTCOM described the strikes as “a proportional response.”

Iranian state media said explosions were reported in Hormozgan province, which lies on the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran vowed a “decisive response” to the attacks, calling the allegation it downed the American helicopter a pretense.