WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tensions appear to be escalating in Iran after a U.S. fighter jet was reportedly shot down by Iran’s military.
The attack is the first of its kind since the conflict broke out over one month ago. As of Friday evening, one crew member has been rescued, the other is still missing.
The White House says President Trump has been briefed. Iranian state media released new photos claiming to show the wreckage of the F-15. State media also announced a reward is being offered by the regime to capture the missing American crew member.
The exact location of the crash is still unclear.
The incident comes just days after President Trump said in a primetime address that Tehran’s military is weakening and that the conflict could end soon.
“Their Navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their missiles are just about used up or beaten,” said Trump during Wednesday night’s primetime address from the White House. “We are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly. Very shortly, we are going to hit them extremely hard over the next 2 to 3 weeks.”
Iranian policy experts say Friday’s incident shouldn’t be viewed as a win or a sign of confidence for Tehran’s regime.
“We cannot take this as a regime or whatever is left of this regime, as a confident regime that has had a good day,” said Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, advisory chair at the Organization of Iranian American Communities. “If Tehran’s regime was truly confident, it would not be killing prisoners the way they have been executing people since the beginning of the week.”
When asked if she thinks the administration has underestimated the capability of the IRGC and Tehran, Sepehrrad said the world has known for years that the IRGC was a terrorist organization that was forging proxy wars and acquiring different weapons and missile capability. More recently, Sepehrrad said, the nuclear weapons issue became the number one issue, after she says it was exposed and revealed to the international community by Iran’s main opposition group — the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
“I don’t think there was any lack of knowing how IRGC really was pushing to gain a hegemonic region. The real miscalculation was on Iran’s regime,” said Sepehrrad.
“Whatever is left of this regime — they miscalculated that the world community, the international community, particularly the United States and EU, is going to stand up to the IRGC’s policies and practices and is going to designate IRGC as a terrorist organization,” Sepehrrad added.
In a budget request sent to Congress Friday, the White House is seeking roughly $1.5 trillion for defense in its 2027 budget — a more than 40% increase that would push military spending to a record high, as the war with Iran continues.
News broke Friday evening that a second U.S. military plane, an A-10 Thunderbolt II was also hit by Iranian forces Friday, forcing the pilot to eject. Reports suggest that the pilot managed to steer the aircraft out of Iranian territory before ejecting and was later rescued.
