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commitments, and we’ll switch to what we speak best. You ride the horse you saddled!” he said on X.

The Apache helicopter is the second crewed aircraft that Washington has confirmed was shot down by Iran during the war, following the loss of an F-15 fighter plane in April.

The downing and the prospect of a US response pose the latest threat to a shaky ceasefire in place since April 8, as the US and Iran struggle to negotiate an end to the conflict.

On Sunday, Iran fired missiles at Israel in response to strikes against Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, before Israel struck back despite Trump’s efforts to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from doing so.

The Israeli leader said of Iran that the “fire on that front is contained” hours after Tehran said it had stopped its military action.

But both sides warned they could resume hostilities, even as Trump indicated diplomatic efforts were progressing.

Iran and Israel “were going back and forth and now they both agreed through me to stop and we’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” Trump told reporters earlier Tuesday.

When asked whether a deal would be a matter of days or weeks, he said it would take “two or three days”.

Following Trump’s comments, oil prices fell around five percent to below $90 a barrel.

The Republican president, struggling with record-low approval ratings as November’s midterm elections approach, has often hinted at an imminent deal with Tehran, but none has yet materialised.

US and Israeli officials said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken on Monday.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said he had warned the Israeli leader not to return to war with Iran: “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon.’”

US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on Monday that while the US and Israel shared interests, their positions did not always align.

“The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests,” Vance said. “But we also have some situations where our interests diverge.”

The conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil usually passes, while Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.

Iranian media reported early Tuesday that Tehran’s international airport -- closed during the missile exchanges -- had reopened, allowing flights carrying hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to land.

Despite Iranian demands and Trump’s warnings, Israel has kept up its attacks on Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.

Yesterday, Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli airstrike on Tyre killed at least eight people, with the Israeli military warning the entire city to evacuate shortly after the strike.

Meanwhile, the heads of the Pakistani and Lebanese armed forces agreed to boost cooperation as they met in Pakistan.

On another front of the war, Israel’s military said early yesterday it had intercepted an aerial target from Yemen, but reported no casualties.