Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday alleged that a recent United States operation to rescue a downed airman may have been a cover to seize enriched uranium from the Islamic Republic, escalating tensions between the two countries.
The claim followed remarks by Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that US forces had recovered a second crew member of an F-15E fighter jet that crashed over Iranian territory. He described the effort as a “daring” search-and-rescue mission.
In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry questioned the true objective of the operation, suggesting it may have gone beyond a humanitarian rescue.
“We view the so-called rescue mission with serious suspicion,” the ministry said, alleging that the US could have used the incident as a pretext to access sensitive مواقع and “steal enriched uranium.”
The ministry did not provide evidence to support the claim but warned that any attempt to tamper with Iran’s nuclear materials would constitute a serious violation of its sovereignty and international law.
Iranian officials said investigations were ongoing into the crash of the F-15E aircraft, which reportedly went down under unclear circumstances. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact location of the crash or the status of any materials at or near the site.
The US has not responded directly to the allegation. However, American officials have consistently maintained that the mission was strictly focused on rescuing personnel and did not involve any broader military or intelligence objectives.
The incident comes amid already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security concerns.
Analysts say the accusation, though unverified, reflects deep mistrust between the two sides and could further complicate diplomatic efforts.
Security experts also note that enriched uranium is typically stored in heavily secured facilities, making it unlikely to be accessible through a rapid-response rescue mission. Nonetheless, the allegation underscores Iran’s sensitivity over its nuclear assets and its readiness to challenge US military actions near its territory.
The development is expected to draw international attention, especially from global powers involved in ongoing discussions around nuclear non-proliferation and stability in the Middle East.
