“We are at war,” Trump declared in a phone call with NBC News. The mandatee refused to give details about the search and rescue mission underway in Iran, which has allowed Washington to recover one of the crew members of the F-15 fighter jet attacked by Tehran alive. Meanwhile, US forces continue to work to find the second crew member of the F-15, whose situation has not been disclosed. Two US military helicopters participating in the rescue efforts were also hit by Iranian fire, but all members are safe, the network confirmed. Additionally, an A-10 Warthog attack plane crashed near the strait almost at the same time as the F-15 was hit by an Iranian attack. US President Donald Trump denied on Friday that the downing of a US fighter jet by Iranian forces would affect negotiations with Tehran. “No, not at all. The only pilot on board is fine and is in US custody. While Trump downplays the attacks in the face of potential negotiations, mediators explained to The Wall Street Journal on Friday that efforts to reach a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, led by Pakistan, are at a “standstill”. According to them, Iran is unwilling to meet with US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and the demands of the United States are “unacceptable”. The peace plan proposal sent by Trump to Tehran a few days ago was rejected precisely for being “excessive”. A day after stating that Iran had requested a “ceasefire” from him and then denying it, the US leader promised that he will attack Iran “harshly” in the next two or three weeks. “No, it's war.”
