Trump warns Iran 'will have to pay the price' for delaying peace deal: 'Bully of Middle East is DEAD'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Iran "will have to pay the price" for delaying negotiations with Washington, hours after American forces launched strikes on Iranian military targets following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Iran's military had been "completely defeated" and described the Islamic Republic as "all talk and no action".

"They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!" Trump wrote.

The US President said Iran's military was "a complete and total mess" and claimed that much of its naval and air capabilities no longer existed.

The remarks came after the United States carried out strikes against Iranian air defence systems, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces conducted the operation at Trump's direction, describing it as a "self-defence" action and a "proportional response" to recent attacks on US forces and commercial shipping in regional waters.

"CENTCOM forces completed self-defence strikes against Iran," the military command said in a statement.

"US forces remain vigilant and postured to defend against unjustified Iranian aggression," it added.

The military action followed the downing of a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter that was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials.

Trump confirmed the incident on social media, saying the helicopter had been brought down overnight but that both pilots aboard were unharmed.

"I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote. "The United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack."

The latest escalation has added strain to a fragile two-month ceasefire that has repeatedly come under pressure.

The truce was tested again this week after Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since the ceasefire took effect.

Iranian state television reported on Tuesday that Israeli strikes killed at least two members of the country's air-defence units.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would retaliate against any further military action.

"Iranian forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered," Araghchi wrote on X. "Leave our region if you want to be safe."