US President Donald Trump warned of airstrikes targeting Iranian power plants and bridges, after praising the rescue of a wounded pilot when an F-15 fighter jet crashed in Iranian territory.
Images released by the Iranian side show the wreckage of the plane being destroyed, but Tehran does not deny that US forces rescued the pilot. The pilot is believed to have been hiding in the mountainous area while US special forces and the Iranian military are racing to search.
The conflict broke out on February 28 after airstrikes by the US and Israel against Iran, which spread throughout the Middle East and affected the global economy.
Iranian missiles have attacked Israeli cities and economic infrastructure in the Gulf, causing world energy prices to fluctuate.
Iran has also almost blockaded the Strait of Hormuz - a vital transportation route for oil and gas - and on April 5, Mr. Trump asked to open the Strait of Hormuz immediately, otherwise Iran would face strong measures.
Then, in a short post, the US President set a new deadline for Iran to comply with this request: "Tuesday, 8:00 PM".
If by Tuesday evening they do not take any action, they will no longer have power plants and no longer have a solid bridge" - Mr. Trump told the Wall Street Journal.
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day - all encapsulated in one day in Iran. There will be nothing like it" - he declared.
President Donald Trump's warning was issued in the context of US media revealing more details in the F-15 pilot rescue operation.
According to the New York Times, this pilot was equipped with a handgun, positioning equipment and a secure communication system to coordinate with rescue forces.
Two planes intended to take pilots and rescue teams out of Iran were stranded at a remote base and were forced to be destroyed to avoid falling into Iran's hands.
After that, US forces used 3 other transport aircraft to take the pilot and rescue team out of Iran.
The Iranian military said it had shot down 4 US aircraft participating in the operation, and accused the US of using an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province.
Iranian media reported that 5 people were killed in airstrikes related to this operation.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a video believed to show the wreckage of a blackened, smoky American plane scattered in the desert.
Iran affirmed that its forces shot down the plane and the crew parachuted. Meanwhile, US media only reported the plane crash, and Washington has not confirmed the cause.
