Did US use F-15E rescue op as cover to seize uranium? Iran claims ‘deception mission’

Iran connected Monday alleged that the United States rescue ngo for the 2nd downed F-15E unit subordinate whitethorn person concealed a broader covert objective, claiming it could perchance person been a screen to “steal enriched uranium” from wrong the country, adjacent arsenic Washington described the cognition carried retired heavy wrong Iranian territory arsenic a analyzable intelligence-led extraction and arsenic "one of the astir daring hunt and rescue operations successful US history".The remarks came aft US President Donald Trump said a 2nd unit subordinate of an F-15E combatant pitchy changeable down implicit Iran had been safely recovered successful what helium described arsenic a “daring” search-and-rescue operation.Iran’s subject dismissed the ngo arsenic “a deception and flight mission”, insisting it had been “completely foiled”. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said determination were “many questions and uncertainties” surrounding the operation, AFP reported.“The country wherever the American aviator was claimed to beryllium contiguous successful Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is simply a agelong mode from the country wherever they attempted to onshore oregon wanted to onshore their forces successful cardinal Iran,” Baqaei said. “The anticipation that this was a deception cognition to bargain enriched uranium should not beryllium ignored astatine all.”Iranian authorities besides said respective US craft were deed during the ngo and forced to marque exigency landings successful Isfahan province, adding that the US resorted to dense bombardment of the downed jet.

US officials, however, person described the cognition arsenic a analyzable intelligence-led rescue. According to an NBC News report, the Central Intelligence Agency carried retired a covert “deception campaign” to mislead Iranian forces portion locating the missing unit member.“While the Iranians were confused and uncertain of what was happening, the Agency utilized its unique, exquisite capabilities to hunt for -- and find -- the American,” a elder US authoritative said.The F-15E Strike Eagle had gone down implicit Iran connected Friday amid the escalating struggle betwixt Iran, the US, and Israel that has entered its 2nd month.