TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign ministry yesterday said that a US operation to rescue a downed airman may have been a cover to “steal enriched uranium” from the Islamic republic.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the US recovered a second crew member of an F-15E that went down over Iran on Friday in what he called a “daring” search and rescue operation. Iran’s military has called it “a deception and escape mission”, insisting it was “completely foiled”.

Yesterday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said there were “many questions and uncertainties” about the operation.

“The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land or wanted to land their forces in central Iran,” Baqaei said.

“The possibility that this was a deception operation to steal enriched uranium should not be ignored at all.”

He added that the operation was “a disaster” for the United States.
Iran’s military said several US aircraft had to “make emergency landings” in southern Isfahan province after being hit during the mission, with the US “forced to heavily bombard the downed aircraft” as a result.

Meanwhile, gas supply was restored yesterday after being cut in parts of Tehran following an attack on gas infrastructure at a university in the city, state television reported.

The strike, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, hit a gas pressure reduction station and metering facilities at Sharif University of Technology, causing a leak.

“The attack did not result in a fire, and in less than half an hour, the gas leak was completely fixed,” state broadcaster IRIB said.

It said the problem had been “resolved” and gas supply had resumed for residents in affected parts of Tehran.

The attack also hit the university’s data centre, which houses an artificial intelligence facility, according to the Fars news agency.
Iranian media carried footage showing extensive damage at the site, with twisted metal, debris and damaged structures across the area. 

– Nampa/AFP