Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for shooting down a US aircraft that was engaged in a rescue mission to locate a missing pilot. The incident reportedly occurred in the southern region of Isfahan, according to Iranian state-linked media reports published on April 5, 2026.

Fars News, citing its Telegram channel, shared an image showing thick smoke rising from a field and described the event as a desperate attempt by former US President Donald Trump to cover up a major defeat. The report emerged shortly after Trump announced that the missing crew member had been rescued. The latest claim follows earlier incidents on Friday in which Iran said it had downed two US warplanes—an F-15 and an A-10—in separate engagements. In total, seven US aircraft have reportedly been destroyed in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The situation underscores escalating hostilities between the two nations, with both sides reporting losses and issuing conflicting statements about recent military operations.

At least five people were killed and 170 others injured in an attack by the United States and Israel on Iran’s Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province. The strike targeted the special petrochemical economic zone near the Persian Gulf, a key industrial hub that supplies a significant portion of Iran’s national petrochemical production.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged responsibility for the attack in a video statement posted on social media platform X. He said the strike followed earlier operations that destroyed 70 percent of Iran’s steel production capacity used for weapons manufacturing. The Mahshahr complex is a central part of Iran’s energy infrastructure.

According to the same report, more than 30 universities have been attacked since the start of the ongoing conflict, underscoring the widening scope of hostilities in the region.

On April 3, during the 35th day of the US-Israeli aggression, an American F-15 fighter jet was destroyed in Iran. The aircraft carried two pilots; the United States claimed to have rescued one but did not disclose any details. The other pilot remains missing, and US forces are reportedly searching for him. According to Tasnim News Agency, citing military sources, the United States has attempted to bomb locations in Iran where it believes the missing pilot might be, effectively trying to kill him.

The report said the bombings targeted areas in Kohgiluyeh city of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, based on suspicions that the pilot was hiding there. The source did not confirm whether the pilot is currently in Iranian custody but suggested that the United States may not have been truthful about the first pilot it claimed to have rescued.

The situation underscores rising tensions in the ongoing US-Israeli military operations and uncertainty surrounding the fate of the missing pilot.

Iran has issued a new warning to the United States and Israel amid its ongoing conflict with both countries. A senior Iranian security official stated that Tehran is advancing according to its war plans and a specific list of targets, adding that a major surprise awaits Washington and Tel Aviv. The official also said that Iran has ordered the seizure of assets belonging to more than a hundred individuals accused of supporting enemy forces inside and outside the country.

According to a statement published by Fars News Agency, the Iranian official dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s threat of attacking bridges as “ridiculous,” calling it a sign of US military failure, including the downing of its aircraft. He asserted that Iran has mastered asymmetric warfare tactics to gradually weaken its enemies, while the US has failed in quick-strike strategies.

The Tehran prosecutor’s office has instructed the freezing of bank accounts and confiscation of assets of over a hundred influential figures accused of aiding foreign adversaries, reflecting Iran’s tightening internal measures during the conflict.

Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran fails to agree to a peace deal within 48 hours. The warning, issued through Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, demanded that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face severe consequences. In his post, Trump reiterated that the deadline was approaching and warned that “hell” would descend on Iran if it did not comply.

In response, Iran’s central military headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, issued a statement dismissing Trump’s ultimatum. General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi described the U.S. president’s remarks as “helpless, confused, unbalanced, and irrational.” He further warned that Trump’s message implied that “the gates of hell” would open for the United States if it acted on its threats.

The exchange underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route. The situation remains volatile as both sides trade warnings without signs of de-escalation.

An Iranian military spokesperson has warned that if tensions continue to rise, the entire region could become a 'hell' for the United States and Israel. Ebrahim Zulfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said that any attempt to defeat the Islamic Republic would be like sinking into quicksand. Separately, the unit’s commander, Ali Abdollahi, threatened to open the 'gates of hell' for both countries.

Their remarks came after US President Donald Trump reportedly gave Iran 48 hours to reach an agreement or open the Strait of Hormuz, warning that otherwise 'hell would descend' on the country. Abdollahi described Trump as an 'aggressive and warmongering' president and called his threat to attack Iran’s infrastructure a 'desperate, unbalanced, and foolish act.'

Abdollahi further stated that if the United States strikes Iranian infrastructure, Tehran would target American and Israeli military facilities without any restrictions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned Gulf countries about potential radioactive risks following an attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. In a social media post on April 4, 2026, Araghchi said Israel and the United States had already carried out four attacks on the Bushehr facility. He cautioned that any radioactive leak from such incidents would not affect Tehran but could devastate the capitals of Gulf nations.

Araghchi compared the situation to Western outrage over the conflict surrounding Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, questioning the lack of similar concern for Iran’s nuclear site. He also claimed that recent strikes on Iran’s petrochemical installations revealed the true intentions of its adversaries.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential environmental and security risks posed by repeated attacks near sensitive nuclear infrastructure in Iran.

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simai Saraf, claimed that more than 30 Iranian universities have come under direct attack since the country entered into conflict with the United States and Israel. According to him, non-military facilities and essential educational and research infrastructures were deliberately targeted, depriving millions of students of access to education and research.

Reports from the Iranian Red Crescent and local media stated that several buildings at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University were damaged on Friday following attacks by the United States and Israel. Iranian authorities described the strikes on universities as a deliberate attempt to weaken the nation’s scientific and cultural foundations.

The situation underscores growing concerns about the impact of the ongoing conflict on Iran’s education sector and civilian infrastructure, as the country continues to face military pressure from opposing forces.

Iran’s top joint military command claimed on Friday that its advanced new air defense system was responsible for shooting down two US warplanes. The state news agency IRNA reported that one of the aircraft was an F-15E flying over southwestern Iran, while the other, an A-10 Warthog, was participating in a rescue mission for the first aircraft’s crew.

According to IRNA, military spokesperson Ebrahim Zulfaqari described the incident as a major humiliation for the United States and Israel. He credited Iran’s domestically developed air defense technology for the success and said the new systems were being deployed across the country to ensure full control of Iranian airspace.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet officially confirmed any details regarding the reported downing of the aircraft, leaving key aspects of the incident unverified.

Iran has announced that ships carrying essential goods will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iranian state media cited by CNN. The decision comes after Tehran had previously restricted navigation in the vital waterway, disrupting global maritime transport.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and its closure or restriction has significant global trade implications. World leaders have been making strong efforts to ensure the security of the strait, though some commercial vessels have continued limited passage under the earlier restrictions. Iran had previously stated that the waterway would remain open to ships not linked to the interests of the United States, Israel, or their allies.

The new permission for essential goods transport is expected to ease some of the pressure on international shipping and supply chains affected by the earlier restrictions.

Russia has removed additional personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant as safety concerns intensify. The state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed that it had withdrawn more workers due to what it described as a worrying situation. According to Russian media, 198 employees were evacuated from the site on Saturday. Rosatom has been gradually pulling out staff since the outbreak of war in Iran in late February.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that a security worker at the Bushehr facility was killed during a recent attack, which also damaged one of the plant’s buildings due to shockwaves and debris. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev warned that conditions around the plant were moving toward the “worst possible scenario.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that attacks by the United States and Israel near the Bushehr nuclear site pose serious risks not only to Iran but to the entire Gulf region.

Iran has expressed interest in enhancing bilateral diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries, according to Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, Ghalibaf stated that Iran was prepared for ongoing conflicts and had already demonstrated its defense capabilities. He described the current war as Israel’s war, saying that the resulting security crisis and damage had affected the entire world.

Ghalibaf said Iran was compelled to target U.S. bases and interests to maintain its regional presence. He warned that any escalation against Iran would trigger a “widespread and severe” response against U.S. regional interests. He emphasized that ensuring regional security was in the interest of all countries involved and that sustainable security remained Iran’s priority.

The speaker added that regional nations could protect their interests through bilateral and multilateral security agreements without foreign interference. He identified the United States and Israel as the main sources of regional instability and said lasting security could only be achieved by eliminating their influence.

An Iranian attack reportedly damaged a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter stationed in Kuwait on April 3, according to Iranian state-affiliated media Tasnim, which released images of the incident as visual evidence. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Friday night that its air defense units shot down one warplane and five drones or cruise missiles in a single day, describing the event as a 'dark day' for US and Israeli air forces.

The confrontation follows a large-scale military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians on February 28. The attacks reportedly caused significant casualties and extensive infrastructure damage across Iran.

In retaliation, Iranian forces have been conducting missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli positions and regional bases, according to the same source.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has emphasized the need for a final and permanent solution to end what he described as an imposed and illegal war on his country. In a post on social media platform X, Aragchi stated that ensuring the conditions for a lasting end to the conflict remains Iran’s main objective, according to Al Jazeera.

Aragchi criticized U.S. media outlets for misrepresenting Iran’s position, particularly regarding his recent visit to Pakistan. He dismissed reports suggesting that Iran had rejected the Islamabad trip, asserting that Iran holds deep gratitude toward Pakistan. His remarks indicate that while Iran remains open to diplomatic solutions, it insists on its own terms for ending the war.

The statement underscores Tehran’s focus on achieving a negotiated but definitive resolution to the conflict, while countering what it views as misinformation about its diplomatic stance.

Iran’s embassy in Vienna has sharply criticized European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for her comments on the Hormuz Strait crisis. The embassy accused Kallas of hypocrisy after she called for restoring freedom of navigation in the strait during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, blaming Iran for attacks on civilian vessels that disrupted maritime traffic.

In two social media posts, the Iranian embassy said Kallas ignored aggressive actions by the United States and Israel while condemning what it described as Iran’s defensive measures. The embassy also challenged her on legal grounds, noting that although Kallas urged Iran to comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Iran is not a signatory to that treaty. It further questioned the quality of her advisers, comparing them to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s loyalists.

The embassy reiterated that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) despite attacks on its peaceful nuclear facilities, which it said endangered regional safety.