The U.S. military has launched a second day of search operations for a downed pilot in Iran as President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face “all Hell.”
The U.S. military entered its second day of search operations for a pilot shot down over a remote Iranian region, as President Donald Trump issued a final 48-hour ultimatum for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The missing warplane, identified by Iran as an F-15E Strike Eagle, was one of two aircraft targeted on Friday, leading Tehran to offer a reward for the capture of the “enemy pilot.” On Truth Social, Trump signaled an imminent escalation of the six-week-old war, posting: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”
As the conflict intensifies, combat operations have struck critical industrial and nuclear infrastructure, raising international alarms over potential war crimes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed strikes on a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, vowing that “We will continue to crush them” to cut off Iranian war funding. Meanwhile, an airstrike near the Bushehr nuclear facility reportedly killed a security guard and prompted the evacuation of 198 Russian workers. Despite Trump’s recent claim that the U.S. has “beaten and completely decimated Iran,” Iranian forces have continued to project power across the region, including a drone attack that damaged the Oracle headquarters in Dubai.
Amidst the escalating violence, mediators from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are working urgently to bring both nations to the negotiating table in Islamabad. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, stated that ceasefire efforts are “right on track,” aimed at bridging the gap between U.S. demands and the reopening of crucial shipping routes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled a willingness to engage, noting that Tehran has “never refused to go to Islamabad.” However, the prospect of a diplomatic settlement remains under the shadow of the Monday deadline, with regional officials describing the current situation as a race against a total regional explosion.
READ THE FULL STORY IN ABC NEWS