Iranian state-linked media on Friday claimed that a US fighter pilot had been shot down and possibly captured inside the country, as conflicting reports surfaced amid escalating regional tensions. There has been no official confirmation from the United States, with the US Central Command, the Pentagon and the White House yet to respond.

According to Iranian outlets, the pilot ejected after a US stealth aircraft was struck over central Iran. Reports differed on the pilot’s condition, with some suggesting survival while others indicated that the impact may have been fatal. A local Iranian television channel also urged civilians to capture the pilot alive, offering what it described as a reward.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that US forces had launched a search operation involving Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft. The report claimed these aircraft were flying at low altitude over western Iran in an attempt to locate the missing pilot, but without success so far.

The incident is linked to Iranian claims that its air defence systems had shot down a second F-35 Lightning II. Iranian military statements described a large explosion following the strike, raising doubts about whether the pilot could have safely ejected.

However, earlier US accounts indicated that an F-35 had made an emergency landing after being hit by a missile, with the pilot surviving. The absence of independent verification has left the latest claims unconfirmed.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter widely used by the United States and its allies, and any confirmed loss — particularly involving a captured pilot — would mark a significant escalation in the conflict.

The developments come as the confrontation entered its fifth week, with Iran reportedly launching strikes across the Gulf region, including attacks on energy infrastructure in Kuwait and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

At the same time, US and Israeli forces have continued strikes inside Iran, with reported attacks in areas including Tehran and Isfahan. The intensifying conflict has contributed to rising oil prices and heightened concerns over broader economic impacts.

Amid the ongoing violence, former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for de-escalation, warning that prolonged hostilities would result in further loss of life without resolving the situation.