Trump and Israel exert pressure on Iran as the deadline approaches, while the search continues for the missing US crew member

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel on Saturday intensified their demands on Iran to allow access to the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, warning of potential attacks on its energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Iranian and U.S. forces worked to locate a missing U.S. crew member from one of the two downed warplanes.

Trump, who has conveyed inconsistent signals since the conflict commenced with a joint U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran on February 28, informed Tehran that his most recent deadline for a resolution to end the war was rapidly nearing.

“Recall the time I provided Iran with ten days to reach an agreement or to open the Hormuz Strait.” Time is slipping away—just 48 hours remain before chaos will descend upon them. “Glory be to GOD!” he expressed in a post on Truth Social.

Trump’s communication regarding the war has fluctuated between suggesting potential diplomatic advancements and issuing threats to bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages.”

A senior Israeli defense official indicated that Israel is poised to target Iranian energy facilities, anticipating a signal from the U.S. This development appears to intensify pressure on Tehran in light of Trump’s recent ultimatum. The official indicated that the timeframe for such attacks would be within the next week. Trump had previously issued a warning about attacking Iranian power plants if he did not receive a response to his demands.

As the conflict reached its sixth week, Washington confronted increased challenges, including the slim possibility of a U.S. service member being alive and evading capture in Iran, limited prospects for peace negotiations, and public opinion polls indicating a lack of support for the war.

Iran’s leadership has remained resolute since the onset of the conflict. The foreign minister indicated a potential openness to peace talks with the U.S., facilitated by Pakistan, yet did not suggest any inclination from Tehran to concede to Trump’s demands. “We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have always been willing to go to Islamabad.” “What we care about are the terms of a definitive and enduring conclusion to the illegal war that has been imposed on us,” stated Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on X.

The conflict has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, ignited an energy crisis, and posed a significant threat to the stability of the global economy. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage that typically transports around one-fifth of the global oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

Iran has unleashed drones and missiles upon Israel and has also targeted Gulf countries allied with the U.S., which have thus far refrained from directly entering the conflict due to concerns over further escalation.

Iranian state TV reported that its military had deployed drones targeting U.S. radar installations, a U.S.-associated aluminum plant in the United Arab Emirates, and U.S. military headquarters in Kuwait as a response to lethal assaults on Iranian industrial sites.

According to state media, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ navy reported that Iran previously targeted a vessel linked to Israel with a drone in the strait, igniting a fire on the ship.

A stacked bar chart illustrating poll results regarding the Iran war among Americans.

A stacked bar chart illustrates the poll results for Americans regarding the Iran war.

Iran proudly showcases its latest air defense systems.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft is refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.

The downing of two U.S. warplanes highlights the ongoing dangers confronting U.S. and Israeli aircraft, despite claims made by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding U.S. forces having complete dominance in the skies over Iran.

Officials from both Iran and the U.S. confirmed on Friday that Iranian fire had downed a two-seat U.S. F-15E jet. A U.S. official reported that search-and-rescue efforts successfully recovered one of the crew members.

According to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters, two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search for the missing crew member were struck by Iranian fire but successfully exited Iranian airspace.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced that it was searching a southwestern region close to the site where the U.S. aircraft went down, while the local governor pledged a reward for anyone who apprehended or eliminated “forces of the hostile enemy.”

In a separate incident, an A-10 Warthog fighter aircraft was struck and subsequently crashed over Kuwait, with the pilot ejecting, according to U.S. officials.
Battered by air power since the onset of U.S. and Israeli attacks, Iranians rejoiced in their triumph.

The Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command announced on Friday the deployment of a new air-defense system that successfully targeted a U.S. fighter jet, three drones, and two cruise missiles. A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya stated, “The enemy should know that we rely on new air-defense systems built by the young, knowledgeable, and proud people of this country, unveiling them one after another in the field,” as reported by Iran’s state media.

The Revolutionary Guards announced that they had struck multiple locations in Israel with a barrage of missiles and drones. Reports from Israeli media indicate that two warheads from an Iranian cluster missile struck near Israel’s Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces reported that they had identified additional missiles launched from Iran targeting Israel.

PETROCHEMICAL ZONE DISCOVERED IN IRAN

Iranian state media reported air strikes in a petrochemical zone in southwestern Iran, resulting in five injuries. Iranian state media subsequently reported that they had extinguished the fire in that location.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had targeted the plant, which an Israeli military spokesperson indicated was involved in the production of materials for explosives and missiles.

Israel has been conducting a concurrent campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon following the militant group’s attacks on Israel in support of Iran.

On Saturday morning, Israel’s military announced that it was targeting the infrastructure sites of militants in Beirut. Subsequently, reports emerged that an Israeli soldier had died in combat in southern Lebanon.