Officials in both countries said Iranian fire had brought down a two-seat U.S. F-15E fighter jet, while U.S. officials added that a pilot from an A-10 Warthog aircraft ejected after it was hit and crashed in Kuwait. Two crew members were rescued, but one pilot remains unaccounted for, prompting an active search operation by Iranian forces in a southwestern region near the crash site.

Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search effort were also hit by Iranian fire but exited Iranian airspace, U.S. officials said, without providing details on injuries.

The developments underscore continued risks for U.S. and Israeli aircraft operating over Iran despite assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that American forces maintain control of the skies.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing the area for the missing pilot, while a regional official offered a reward for capturing or killing what was described as “hostile enemy” forces.

Amid escalating hostilities, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated Tehran remained open in principle to negotiations mediated by Pakistan, while rejecting suggestions that it had refused such talks.

“We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us,” Araqchi said on social media.

U.S. officials said President Trump was receiving regular updates on efforts to locate the missing pilot, as the war which has killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded more than 300 continued to weigh on domestic political sentiment and economic conditions.

On the battlefield, Iranian state media reported air strikes on a petrochemical zone in the southwest, injuring at least five people, while a projectile struck an auxiliary building near the Bushehr nuclear plant, killing one person but not disrupting operations.

Iran accused the United States and Israel of repeated strikes near sensitive nuclear infrastructure, warning of potential regional consequences, while Israeli forces said they had conducted a new wave of strikes targeting Tehran.

The conflict has disrupted global energy flows, with Iran largely shutting the Strait of Hormuz a critical artery for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments though Iranian media said vessels carrying essential goods had been permitted to access its ports.

The war has killed thousands and triggered a sharp rise in oil prices, with benchmark U.S. crude jumping 11% earlier this week after Washington signalled no immediate end to hostilities.

As governments grappled with the economic fallout, five European Union finance ministers called for a windfall tax on energy companies to counter surging fuel costs, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

The proposed rules, open for public comment until May 6, require all digital human-generated content to carry prominent identification, aiming to prevent users from mistaking virtual entities for real individuals. The regulator also moved to prohibit digital humans from offering “virtual intimate relationships” to users under the age of 18.

The draft framework bars the use of personal data without consent to create digital avatars and prohibits the deployment of such entities to circumvent identity verification systems, reflecting concerns over privacy violations and fraud risks linked to advances in artificial intelligence.

Authorities also outlined strict content controls, banning digital humans from producing material deemed harmful to national security, including content that incites subversion, promotes secession, or undermines national unity.

Service providers are instructed to curb the spread of harmful content, including sexually suggestive, violent, or discriminatory material, and are encouraged to intervene when users display signs of self-harm or suicidal behaviour by directing them to professional assistance.

The move aligns with Beijing’s broader push to expand artificial intelligence across its economy while tightening regulatory oversight to ensure alignment with state priorities and social stability.

According to an official analysis published alongside the draft, the measures are intended to close regulatory gaps in the fast-growing digital human sector and establish clear boundaries for its development, framing governance of the technology as a matter of national security, public interest, and long-term digital economy strategy.

The recommendation comes as markets increasingly expect the BOJ to deliver another rate hike as early as April, driven by mounting inflationary pressure linked to rising oil prices and higher import costs exacerbated by a weak yen.

In a statement issued from Washington following its policy consultation with Japan, the IMF said economic growth is likely to moderate partly due to the conflict, but added that gradual wage gains should support private consumption. It assessed that risks to both growth and inflation remain broadly balanced, with inflation projected to converge to the BOJ’s 2% target by 2027.

The IMF’s executive board commended Japan’s economic resilience to external shocks and said the central bank was appropriately withdrawing monetary accommodation after years of ultra-loose policy. It added that as underlying inflation moves toward the target, further rate increases toward a neutral level should proceed in a flexible and well-communicated manner.

The BOJ ended its large-scale stimulus programme in 2024 and has since raised interest rates multiple times, including in December, signalling confidence that Japan is on track to sustainably achieve its inflation goal. Policymakers have indicated readiness to continue tightening if economic conditions and price trends remain aligned with projections.

Rising oil prices, while weighing on Japan’s import-dependent economy, are also seen by policymakers as contributing to inflationary momentum alongside steady wage growth and broader price increases.

Financial markets have responded to increasingly hawkish signals from the BOJ by pricing in roughly a 70% probability of a rate hike this month. At the same time, the yen’s depreciation toward the 160-per-dollar level has heightened speculation about potential currency intervention.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama warned against speculative movements in the currency market, stating that authorities stand ready to take all legally available measures, including unconventional steps, to stabilise the yen.

The world’s third-largest oil importer had not received shipments from Iran since May 2019, when U.S. pressure led buyers to halt purchases, but recent supply strains stemming from the U.S.-Israel conflict have tightened availability for the South Asian nation.

“Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports,” the ministry said in a statement on X, indicating that financial channels for such transactions are currently functioning.

The development follows a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products last month aimed at alleviating global supply shortages, according to the report.India said it has secured its full crude oil requirements for the coming months, adding that refiners retain flexibility to source supplies from more than 40 countries based on commercial considerations.

In addition to crude, India has imported 44,000 metric tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas carried on a sanctioned vessel that berthed at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday and is currently discharging cargo, the ministry said.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strike on a medical facility in the city of Al-Jabalain constituted a “flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” as well as a breach of fundamental principles governing armed conflict.

The ministry denounced the targeting of the hospital as a “reprehensible act” that cannot be justified under any circumstances, underscoring the protected status of medical facilities and personnel under international humanitarian norms.

Saudi Arabia called for an immediate cessation of such violations and urged all parties involved in the Sudan conflict to adhere to the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023, which includes commitments to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Kingdom reiterated its longstanding position supporting Sudan’s unity and its legitimate institutions, stating that preserving these remains essential for achieving stability and addressing the aspirations of the Sudanese population.

The Dubai Media Office said the incident involved fragments falling on an Oracle building following defensive action against an aerial threat.

“Authorities confirm that they responded to a minor incident caused by debris from an aerial interception.

No injuries were reported,” it said in a statement on X.Officials also reported a similar incident in Dubai Marina, where debris fell on a building facade without causing injuries or fire.

Oracle had previously been listed among 18 U.S. firms that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned could be targeted in retaliation for attacks on the country.

Elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates, authorities said an Egyptian national was killed and four others sustained minor injuries after debris from an intercepted strike fell on gas facilities in Habshan, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Friday.

A further 12 people were injured in a separate debris incident in Ajban, officials said.In Bahrain, the interior ministry reported that four citizens sustained minor injuries after shrapnel from intercepted drones struck residential areas in Sitra, damaging several homes. Emergency and civil defense teams were deployed to the site.

The incidents highlight the spillover risks of ongoing hostilities in the region, as air defense interceptions increasingly result in debris falling across civilian areas in Gulf states.

The vote, initially expected on Saturday, will now take place sometime next week, according to two diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of council discussions.

Bahrain, which holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, had significantly watered down the resolution in an effort to secure consensus among the council’s 15 members.

The revised draft authorizes defensive measures to ensure safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait, stopping short of the offensive military action initially backed by Gulf states and the United States.

The delay underscores continued divisions within the council, with Russia and China still unwilling to support the modified proposal, diplomats said.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply typically flows, has become a focal point of international concern amid escalating conflict in the region, raising fears over energy security and global trade disruptions.

Bahrain has been seeking unanimous backing for the resolution, but the postponement highlights the challenges of achieving agreement among major powers on how to respond to the the crisis.

The injured personnel were part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which said the blast occurred near El Adeisse and that the injured were taken to hospital, with two reported in serious condition.

The United Nations Information Centre confirmed the nationalities of the wounded, adding that the cause of the explosion remained unknown.The incident follows a series of deadly events involving Indonesian peacekeepers in recent days.

One was killed on March 29 when a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon, with a UN security source attributing the blast to Israeli tank fire. Two others died a day later after an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy in the same region.

The bodies of the three killed peacekeepers are expected to arrive in Jakarta on Saturday, according to Indonesian military officials.

UNIFIL said the recent underscore the dangers faced by peacekeepers operating in areas affected by hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which have intensified since Lebanon became involved in the wider regional conflict in early March.

The mission reiterated calls for all parties to respect their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, including by avoiding military activity near peacekeeping positions.

“This has been a difficult week for peacekeepers working near the central part of UNIFIL’s area of operations,” the mission said in a statement.

Wang Yi has led a flurry of outreach, holding discussions with counterparts across the Middle East and Europe while advocating a ceasefire and reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has also opposed a United Nations proposal backed by Bahrain that could authorize force to ensure maritime transit through the strait.

Analysts say the diplomatic push reflects China’s broader ambition to project itself as a responsible global power. Sun Yun of the Stimson Center said the conflict presents an opportunity for Beijing to demonstrate leadership, while former U.S. diplomat Danny Russel described the initiative as largely symbolic, comparing it to China’s earlier proposals on Ukraine that lacked implementation.

“It’s messaging, not mediation,” Russel said, arguing that China is seeking to contrast its approach with Washington’s.The administration of Donald Trump has shown limited enthusiasm for third-party mediation, with U.S. officials indicating reluctance to elevate China’s diplomatic role in the Middle East.

One official described Washington’s stance on the China-Pakistan proposal as “agnostic,” though the position could shift ahead of a planned summit between Trump and Xi Jinping expected in mid-May.Beijing has an economic incentive to contain the conflict, particularly disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy flows.

While China has reduced its reliance on Iranian oil to about 13 percent of imports and maintains strategic reserves, analysts warn that prolonged instability could raise input costs and weaken global demand for Chinese exports.

China has also worked to secure safe passage for its vessels through the strait, even as tensions have driven up energy prices worldwide. At the same time, Beijing’s position aligns with Moscow’s opposition to measures that could expand the conflict, with both countries wary of endorsing force through the United Nations Security Council.

Diplomatic activity has intensified in recent days, with Wang engaging officials from countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, France and the United Arab Emirates. He has also sought backing from European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and regional leaders for China’s ceasefire proposal.

China’s embassy in Washington said Beijing has been working “tirelessly for peace,” while analysts note that its approach emphasizes calls for de-escalation, respect for international law and a greater role for the United Nations.

However, U.S. officials say the proposal lacks operational detail, describing it as a broad appeal rather than a concrete roadmap for ending the conflict. The muted response from Washington underscores broader strategic competition between the two powers, limiting the prospects for coordinated diplomacy.

Meanwhile, efforts at the United Nations continue, with Bahrain revising its proposal to authorize defensive measures to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with a vote expected in the coming days.

The figures, published by the Pentagon, show that 247 of the injured are from the U.S. Army, 63 from the Navy, 19 from the Marine Corps and 36 from the Air Force.

The data also indicates that 200 of those wounded are mid- to senior-level enlisted personnel, while 85 are officers and 80 are junior enlisted troops.

It remains unclear whether the figures include personnel involved in two combat aircraft incidents reported on Friday, including the downing of a U.S. fighter jet during operations over Iran.The overall death toll stands at 13 U.S. service members, the military said.

Of these, six died when a refueling aircraft crashed over Iraq, while seven were killed in combat operations linked to the conflict.

Separately, 12 U.S. troops were wounded, including two seriously, in an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to earlier reports.

The casualty figures come as U.S. forces continue sustained operations against Iran, with the scale and intensity of the conflict raising concerns over its broader regional and strategic implications.