Iran’s embassies in Pakistan and South Africa issued a sharp rebuke to a woman who claimed that one of her sons is a fighter pilot. The woman wrote on X that she still has not heard from her son or his unit and that her heart is “heavy with worry”.
Iran warned that her sons were “more in danger” under US President Donald Trump than they would be in Iranian custody.
Responding to her public plea on X for prayers for the missing pilots, the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan wrote, “Be sure your sons are more in danger with DJ Trump than in custody in Iran. Pray he’s kept captive by Iran than found by US rescue teams! As Muslim and civilised Iranians, we know how to treat captives in custody with dignity and respect.”
Be sure your sons are more in danger with DJ Trump than in custody in Iran.
Pray he’s kept captive by Iran than found by US rescue teams!As Muslim and civilised Iranians, We know how to treat captives in custody with dignity and respect. https://t.co/On6aVF7l6C pic.twitter.com/9mRsq08MUt
— Embassy of IR Iran Pakistan (@IraninIslamabad) April 4, 2026
The embassy in South Africa amplified the message, invoking Iran’s historical treatment of prisoners of war, “In Iran, long before so-called humanitarian laws were written, the rights of POWs (prisoners of war) were already defined. We do not treat POWs like your savage allies, the Zionists. We have an Iranian civilization. We do not live like in the Stone Age, like America”.
In Iran, long before what so-called useless humanitarian laws were written, the rights of POWs had already been defined.
We do not treat POWs like your savage allies, the Zionists.
We have an Iranian civilization. We do not live like in the Stone Age, like America. https://t.co/KZaWfEP7Xj— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) April 4, 2026
Their responses followed an emotional post by the pilot’s mother, who wrote, “Please keep the two F-15 pilots who were shot down in your prayers tonight. One of my sons is a fighter pilot, and I still haven’t heard any news from him or his unit. My heart is heavy with worry. Please pray for all the pilots and their families.”
Please keep the two F-15 pilots who were shot down in your prayers tonight.
One of my sons is a fighter pilot, and I still haven’t heard any news from him or his unit. My heart is heavy with worry. Please pray for all the pilots and their families. 🙏— N B (@lovelynancie) April 3, 2026
Iran downed two US military aircraft in separate incidents on Friday. One crew member was rescued, while at least one remains missing. Iranian state media also claimed a US A-10 attack jet crashed in the Persian Gulf after making contact with Iranian defence forces, though a US official said it was unclear if it was shot down or crashed.
Meanwhile, footage circulating online showed American drones, aircraft, and helicopters searching the mountainous region where Iranian state-affiliated outlets said a pilot had ejected.
The aircraft losses came as Iran launched strikes across the Middle East, triggering air-raid sirens in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported intercepting several Iranian drones, while Israel said it had also faced incoming missiles.
It was the first time a US aircraft was downed in the Iran war, which broke out on February 28 when the American and Israeli forces attacked Iran, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Throughout the war, Iran has repeatedly claimed to have shot down piloted enemy aircraft.
The US military has announced the loss of several aircraft during Iran operations, including one tanker that crashed in Iraq and three F-15s shot down by Kuwaiti friendly fire.
More than 1,900 people have been killed in the Iran war. About two dozen people have died in Gulf states in Iran’s retaliation; 19 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 US service members have been killed.