On 23 July 2025, a tense encounter unfolded in the Gulf of Oman between an Iranian navy helicopter and a US Navy destroyer. Iranian state media reported the incident, claiming the US destroyer tried to enter waters disputed by Iran.
However, a US defence official refuted these claims, describing the event as a safe and professional interaction in international waters. The confrontation marks the first direct military contact between the two nations since the recent 12-day Iran-Israel conflict.
