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.

Ishaq Dar said after meetings with regional counterparts that Islamabad was ready to facilitate “meaningful talks” toward a “comprehensive and lasting settlement,” including potential U.S.-Iran negotiations. It was not immediately clear whether either side had agreed to participate.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accused Washington of signalling openness to diplomacy while preparing for military escalation, saying Tehran would not accept demands amounting to surrender.U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed any agreement to attend talks.

Reports cited by U.S. media indicate the Pentagon is assessing options that could include ground operations, though no final decision has been announced by Donald Trump.

Discussions among regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian restrictions on shipping since late February have disrupted global oil flows.

The conflict has driven oil prices sharply higher and intensified risks to maritime trade, with additional threats emerging near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces.

Israel said it carried out more than 140 air strikes across Iran over a 24-hour period, targeting missile infrastructure and other sites. Iranian media reported damage to Mehrabad airport in Tehran and a petrochemical facility in Tabriz.

Missile and drone exchanges have extended beyond Iran, with strikes reported in southern Israel near Beersheba and damage to industrial facilities in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran’s heavy water production plant at Khondab had suffered severe damage and was no longer operational, though it contained no declared nuclear material.

The U.S. military has begun deploying thousands of Marines to the region, with the first contingent arriving aboard an amphibious assault ship, according to official statements.

Washington last week proposed a ceasefire framework that included reopening Hormuz and limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, but Tehran rejected the plan.

The conflict has triggered domestic political divisions in the United States, with protests reported in multiple cities and lawmakers offering sharply differing views on the war’s trajectory.