This week, President Trump predicted a ceasefire with Iran was nearly done—finalizable in an hour. Hours later, Iran downed a US Apache helicopter in the Gulf of Oman; the crew was rescued. According to France 24, Iran's strike was retaliation for US air operations targeting Iranian drones and seeking to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The incident reveals how quickly diplomatic hopes can collide with military escalation.

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