Iran says pilot rescue would be ploy to seize uranium

According to international agencies, the accusation (so far unanswered by Washington) was made by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei at a press conference in Tehran.

“The possibility that this was a diversionary operation to steal enriched uranium should not be ruled out. However, what is clear is that the outcome of this operation was a failure for the other side,” Baghaei said.

On Friday (3), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that a US F-35 fighter jet was shot down in Iranian airspace, in the central province of Isfahan.

The two pilots ejected shortly before the aircraft was hit and one of them was rescued afterwards, but the second had to hide in a mountainous region and only on Sunday (5) did American President Donald Trump confirm that he was rescued.

Data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicate that Iran currently possesses around 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, material that, if enriched to around 90%, would be enough for nine nuclear bombs, according to experts.

At the press conference, Baghaei denied that Iran was willing to accept a ceasefire, amid reports in the American press that Washington and Tehran were talking about a 45-day pause in the conflict, which began on February 28.

“Negotiation is in no way compatible with ultimatums, crimes or threats to commit war crimes,” said Baghaei, in reference to Trump’s threat to bomb Iran’s energy infrastructures and bridges if the strategic Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by the regime by Tuesday night (7).

The spokesperson claimed that a ceasefire would mean “a pause for regrouping and rearming with the aim of continuing the crime” and that Iran demands “an end to the imposed war, along with guarantees that this nefarious cycle will not repeat itself.”