US rescues airman as Trump, Israel pressure Iran ahead of deadline

The US rescued an airman missing from one of two warplanes downed in Iran, two US officials said, as President Donald Trump and Israel stepped up pressure on Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on energy facilities.

"Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History," according to a statement from Trump posted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X.

Trump said the crew member was injured but "he will be just fine".

The airman was the second member of a two-person crew of an F-15 jet that Iran said on Friday was brought down by its air defences. Reuters reported on Friday that the first member of the crew had been recovered.

Iranian military officials said on Sunday several aircraft were destroyed in the south of Iran's Isfahan province during the rescue mission.

"Additional investigations by experts on the ground revealed that two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters of the US army were destroyed by our forces," the spokesperson of the unified command of Iranian armed forces said.

Separate statements by the Iranian army and Revolutionary Guards said an Israeli Hermes-900 drone as well as a US MQ-9 drone were downed in Isfahan province.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said US search operations were conducted from Saturday evening in three different provinces, namely Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, and Isfahan.

As the was has escalated, US President Trump has sent mixed messages ranging from hints of diplomatic progress to threats of more attacks since the US and Iran launched the war on Iran on February 28.

Trump, who has previously threatened to hit Iranian power plants if his demands were not met, told Tehran his latest deadline for a deal to end the war was fast approaching.

The war has killed thousands, sparked an energy crisis and threatens lasting damage to the world economy after Iran virtually shut the ​Strait of Hormuz, which usually carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.