After reports emerged that two US warplanes were shot down by the Iranian military on Friday, President Donald Trump, in first reaction, ruled out the possibility of the downing affecting negotiations. The US officials, as cited by Reuters, confirmed that two fighter jets, an F-15 and an A-10 Warthog, were downed in Iran.
When asked whether the downing of the jets would affect ongoing negotiations with Iran, Trump said in an NBC News interview, “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in a war.”
Trump declined to provide further details on the rescue operation for the missing pilot who ejected after the aircraft was shot down, stating that he was unhappy with the media coverage as it could affect the rescue efforts.
Two US jets go down in Iran war for the first time
Within 24 hours, the US lost two of its most advanced fighter jets in the conflict with Iran. This marks the first time Iran has successfully targeted US jets inside contested territory in this war, raising concerns about further escalation.
An F-15E Strike Eagle was the first aircraft reported downed, followed by an A-10 Warthog. Reports suggest that two of the three pilots have been rescued, while one remains missing. Iran’s state media reported that the country has launched a search for the missing pilot. An Iranian television reporter said that anyone who captures a crew member alive would “receive a valuable reward,” according to AFP.
Iran Parliament speaker mocks US while ex-foreign minister says ‘lets talk’
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s Parliament speaker, reacted sarcastically on X, saying that after claiming repeated victories over Iran, the US campaign has now been reduced from ‘regime change’ to rescuing its pilots.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that writing in the US journal Foreign Affairs, Iran’s former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested that Tehran should reach a deal with Washington. He proposed curbing Iran’s nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump has maintained that Iran must accept a peace deal or face continued US military pressure. The US has been deploying additional troops to the Middle East even as it claims that talks are ongoing with some Iranian leaders. Secretary of state Marco Rubio earlier said that increasing troop presence ensures that all options remain on the table.
