‘Your son is in greater danger with Trump’: Iran tells US pilot’s mother it won’t treat prisoners of war ‘like your barbaric allies’

The woman called for prayer in X’s post, writing: “Please pray for the two downed F-15 pilots tonight. One of my sons is a fighter pilot and I still have not heard anything from him or his unit. My heart is filled with concern. Please pray for all pilots and their families.”Responding to her message, the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan said: “The dangers of ensuring your son is in DJ Trump’s presence are greater than being detained in Iran. Praying he is captured by Iran and not found by an American rescue team! As Muslims and civilized Iranians, we know how to treat prisoners in our custody with dignity and respect. “The Iranian embassy in South Africa echoed this position, saying: “In Iran, the rights of prisoners of war were defined long before so-called humanitarian law was established. We will not treat prisoners of war like your barbaric allies, the Zionists. We have Iranian civilization. We are not living in the Stone Age like the United States.”“In Iran, the rights of prisoners of war were defined long before the creation of so-called useless humanitarian law. We do not treat prisoners of war like your barbaric allies, the Zionists. We have Iranian civilization. We are not living in the Stone Age like the United States.”The comments come as the U.S. military searches for at least one missing service member after Iran shot down two U.S. planes in separate incidents on Friday. One crew member has been rescued, but the condition of the other crew member is unknown.Iran claimed it had also attacked other U.S. assets, including helicopters, and state media reported that an A-10 attack plane crashed in the Persian Gulf after an encounter with Iranian forces, although U.S. officials said it was unclear whether the plane was shot down or crashed.Videos circulating online showed U.S. drones, planes and helicopters scanning the mountainous area, and Iranian media said a pilot ejected to escape. Iranian state-related media and broadcasters also urged civilians to report or hand over any “enemy pilots”, and there were reports that a reward would be offered.The incidents mark a significant escalation in the conflict that has been ongoing since U.S. and Israeli forces launched an attack on Iran on February 28. This was the first confirmed downing of an American aircraft during the war.Despite earlier claims by Washington that Iran’s air defenses had been significantly degraded, the latest losses indicate ongoing operational risks. Iran has also claimed to have shot down manned aircraft multiple times during the conflict.The wider war has spread across the region, with attacks by Iran triggering air raid warnings in Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting drones. Israel also faces incoming missile attacks.The conflict has killed more than 1,900 people so far, with casualties reported in multiple countries, including Gulf states, Israel and U.S. military personnel.Even as the fighting intensifies, diplomatic efforts remain ongoing. Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are trying to bring the two sides to the negotiating table, with discussions reportedly focused on a cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign minister has expressed willingness to participate in negotiations and said the country has “never refused to go to Islamabad”.However, US President Donald Trump issued a new warning, saying “hell will befall them in 48 hours” if Iran does not meet demands related to the strategic waterway.The situation remains unstable, military operations continue and the search for the missing pilot continues in the rugged terrain of southwestern Iran.