Iran has rejected allegations that it intentionally shot down an American helicopter, insisting that the aircraft was not deliberately targeted, 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
Speaking amid heightened tensions in the region, Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the incident occurred after an Iranian drone collided with the US helicopter.
He maintained that there had been no intention to attack the aircraft and described the event as an unintended consequence of the current volatile situation.
The deputy foreign minister added that such incidents could occur unintentionally during periods of heightened military and political tension, stressing that the collision was not a planned action by Iranian forces.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly carried out a drone attack against the United States Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain, in what was described as a response to recent American strikes.
In a separate development, Russian media outlets claimed that an American MQ-9 drone had been destroyed. However, no independent confirmation of the reported incident was immediately available.
The latest claims and counterclaims come as tensions remain high across the region, raising concerns about the possibility of further military confrontations involving Iran and the United States.