Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday that its intelligence chief Majid Khademi was killed in US-Israeli strikes.

Khademi was "martyred in the criminal terrorist attack by the American-Zionist enemy... at dawn today," the IRGC said in a statement quoted by local media.

WASHINGTON -- The United States, Iran and regional mediators are discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to "a permanent end to the war," Axios reported on Sunday, citing anonymous US, Israeli and regional sources.

The report said the mediators are discussing the terms of a two-phased deal: the first phase would involve a potential 45-day ceasefire, during which the parties would negotiate a permanent end to the war, while the second phase would focus on reaching an agreement to end the war.

The ceasefire could be extended if more time is needed for talks, it said, noting that fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resolving the issue of Iran's highly enriched Uranium could only be the result of a final deal.

United States President Donald Trump has warned that "all hell" will rain down on Iran if no peace deal is reached within 48 hours, as his 10-day deadline for Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz approaches.

Trump's threat came amid intensified strikes in the Middle East over the weekend, just as Christians were commemorating Easter, with energy facilities in the Gulf countries, as well as universities and hospitals in Iran, suffering heavy damage.

Warplanes destroyed a research center which is part of the sprawling Shahid Beheshti University in northern Tehran. The attack on Friday on the Laser and Plasma Research Institute of the elite higher education facility is part of a growing number of civilian sites targeted by the US and Israel in their war on Iran.

Hossein Simaei Saraf, Iranian minister of science, research and technology, told reporters at the research center on Saturday that parts of at least 30 universities have so far been hit by US and Israeli strikes since the start of the war on Feb 28.

Meanwhile, in the latest developments on Sunday, Trump confirmed on his Truth Social account that the US military pulled off "one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history" after a "highly respected colonel" was now "safe and sound" after his plane was shot down over Iran.

The airman was one of two military personnel aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down over Iran on Friday. Another crew member was rescued earlier.

The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran announced on Sunday that Iranian military forces destroyed several US aircraft in southern Isfahan. He said it foiled a desperate attempt by US forces to infiltrate Iran and extract the pilot.

The spokesman said a joint operation successfully intercepted and neutralized the incoming aircraft.

The spokesperson added that the downed aircraft included two Black Hawk helicopters and two C-130 military transport planes, all of which were struck and left burning in southern Isfahan.

Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that several people were killed in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province during search operations for the US airman from the downed F-15E jet.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, five people were killed and eight wounded in an attack on the Koh Siah area of Kohgiluyeh County, while four others were killed in the Vazg and Kakan areas of Boyer-Ahmad County.

On Saturday, one person was killed from projectile fragments after the US and Israel strikes targeted a location close to Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that its air force struck more than 120 targets in central and western Iran and that its targets included ballistic missiles, drone production and air defenses, among others.

Raising alarm

"Israel-US have bombed our Bushehr plant four times now. Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a post on X on April 4.

He also accused the US media of "misrepresenting" Iran's position and reiterated that what Iran cared about are the terms of a "lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us".

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, said on X on Sunday he was joining the IAEA in raising the alarm again over the safety of nuclear facilities in Iran.

"The latest incident involving the Bushehr nuclear power plant is a stark reminder: a strike could trigger a nuclear accident, with health impacts that would devastate generations," said Ghebreyesus.

"With every passing day of this escalating conflict, the stakes and threats are raised higher and higher. We must de-escalate now. Peace is the best medicine," he added.

Meanwhile, former IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei urged the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the United Nations to stop "madman" Trump from turning the region into a ball of fire.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com

Trump says he believes he can reach a deal with Iran by Monday: Fox News

WASHINGTON - The crew member of the downed US F-15 had been rescued from "deep inside the mountains of Iran" and is "seriously wounded," US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

In another post, he threatened that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one," for Iran, and again urged Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

He also announced that he will hold a news conference with the military at 1 pm ET (1700 GMT) on Monday, three hours after his "48-hour warning" to Iran expires.

United States President Donald Trump has claimed that "all hell" will rain down on Iran if no peace deal is reached within 48 hours, as his 10-day deadline for Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz approached.

Trump's threat came amid intensified strikes in the Middle East over the weekend, just as Christians were commemorating Easter, with hospitals and universities in Iran, as well as energy facilities in the Gulf countries, suffering heavy damage.

On Sunday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social account that the US military had pulled off "one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history" and that a "highly respected colonel" was now "safe and sound".

"At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation," said Trump, and vowed to "never leave an American warfighter behind" as he ended with an Easter greeting.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that Iran's armed forces foiled a US attempt to rescue a downed pilot in a coordinated operation south of Isfahan in central Iran.

The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran announced that Iranian military forces had destroyed several US aircraft in southern Isfahan and that the incident followed desperate efforts by US forces to infiltrate central Iran and extract the pilot.

The spokesman said a joint operation involving the aerospace and ground forces, volunteer Basij units, and law enforcement successfully intercepted and neutralized the incoming aircraft.

The spokesman also accused Trump of attempting to downplay the incident by claiming in a social media post that a special operation had been carried out to rescue the downed pilot. The spokesperson added that the downed aircraft included two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport plane, all of which were struck and left burning in southern Isfahan.

Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that people were killed in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province during the search operations for a US airman from the downed F-15E jet.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, five people were killed and eight wounded in an attack on the Koh Siah area of Kohgiluyeh County, while four others were killed in the Vazg and Kakan areas of Boyer-Ahmad County.

On Saturday, one person was killed from projectile fragments after the US and Israel strikes targeted a location close to Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Israel Defense Forces said its air forces struck more than 120 targets in central and western Iran and that its targets included ballistic missiles, UAV production and air defenses.

"Remember the Western outrage about hostilities in Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine?" Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X following Saturday's attacks.

"Israel-US have bombed our Bushehr plant four times now. Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran. Attacks on our petrochemicals also convey real objectives."

Araghchi also accused the US media of "misrepresenting" Iran's position and reiterated that what Iran cared about are the terms of a "lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us".

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, wrote on X on Sunday he was joining the IAEA in raising the alarm again over the safety of nuclear facilities in Iran.

"The latest incident involving the Bushehr nuclear power plant is a stark reminder: a strike could trigger a nuclear accident, with health impacts that would devastate generations," said Ghebreyesus.

"With every passing day of this escalating conflict, the stakes and threats are raised higher and higher. We must de-escalate now. Peace is the best medicine," he added.

Meanwhile, former IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei urged the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and United Nations to stop "madman" Trump from turning the region into a ball of fire.

On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait reported energy facilities being targeted by Iranian drones.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com

TEHRAN - Several US soldiers died in a military operation to rescue crew members from a downed fighter jet in Iran, Iran's Fars news agency reported Sunday, citing sources.

Iran's revolutionary guards say US aircraft in search of pilot was downed: Tasnim

Trump confirms the rescue of the missing US pilot

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the Strait of Hormuz or face "Hell."

"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them," Trump said.

On March 21, Trump threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Two days later, however, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days after holding "productive conversations" with Tehran. He later again pushed the deadline back.

TEHRAN -- Iran has authorized the passage of ships carrying essential and humanitarian goods through the Strait of Hormuz to it ports, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday.

The report cited a letter, dated March 1, sent to Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) by Hooman Fathi, Iran's Deputy Agriculture Minister, as saying that the Iranian government and armed forces have authorized passage by those vessels.

The letter asked the PMO to allow the passage of ships destined for Iranian ports or currently in the Gulf of Oman that carry humanitarian commodities, especially essential goods and livestock inputs, based on the issued protocols.

It added that a list of such ships will be sent for further coordination.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior officials and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases in the Middle East, and exercising tight control over the Strait of Hormuz.

TEHRAN -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Saturday that it had hit an Israel-linked vessel with a drone, setting it on fire.

The IRGC Navy said in a post on social media platform X that it hit the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, in a statement on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC confirmed the attack, saying its forces had targeted an Israeli-owned commercial ship in a port in Bahrain.

It said the ship, which was sailing under a third country's flag and identified as "MCS Ishika," was targeted by its Navy's "powerful projectiles" in Khalifa Bin Salman Port during the 95th wave of the attacks against the US and Israeli targets in the West Asia region.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side.

The statement added that the Israeli targets were in cities including Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, which were hit "heavily and continuously" by the multiple-warhead Qadr missiles.

The development came amid heightened regional tensions following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran seeks to secure the terms of a "conclusive and lasting" end to the US and Israeli war imposed on the country.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X while highlighting one of Iran's main preconditions for an end to the ongoing conflict, and reacting to US media reports that the country has refrained from attending ceasefire talks with the United States in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

"Iran's position is being misrepresented by US media. We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad," Araghchi said.

"What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us," he stressed.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Iran has officially told mediators that it is not willing to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers US demands unacceptable.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency early Friday quoted an informed source as saying that Iran had rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire sent through a "friendly" country the preceding day.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

TEHRAN -- At least five people were injured in US-Israeli attacks on several petrochemical companies in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

The firms, identified as Fajr 1 and 2, Regal, Amirkabir, Bandar Imam and Buali Sina, were hit at 10:47 am local time (0717 GMT), the report said.

It quoted Valiollah Hayati, Khuzestan's deputy governor for security and law enforcement affairs, as saying that the possibility of further casualties is very high.

He added the Shalamcheh border trade terminal in Khorramshahr city was also attacked and sustained serious damage.

The Mahshahr Special Petrochemical Zone, where the companies are located, has been evacuated, the report said.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

WASHINGTON -- US officials confirmed Friday that two US rescue helicopters involved in the search and rescue efforts for an F-15 fighter jet downed earlier on Friday were struck by Iranian fire, according to US media reports.

Crew members aboard the helicopters were unharmed, said an NBC News report, citing a US official.

Meanwhile, a second Air Force combat plane crashed in the Persian Gulf region on Friday, and the lone pilot was safely rescued, reported The New York Times, citing two US officials.

The officials said the A-10 Warthog attack plane went down near the Strait of Hormuz about the same time that the Air Force F-15E was shot down over Iran. One crew member was rescued and search-and-rescue operators are looking for the second airman.

Earlier on Friday, US officials confirmed that a US F-15E fighter was downed in southern Iran. While one crew member was rescued by US forces, the search and rescue mission is ongoing for the two-member crew aircraft.

It is the first known US warplane downed inside Iran since the United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb 28.

TEHRAN -- The Iranian army confirmed that its air defense systems shot down a US A-10 "Warthog" attack plane on Friday over Iran's southern waters near the Strait of Hormuz, with the aircraft crashing into the Persian Gulf.

The announcement, published on the army's website, came shortly after Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said that it had downed a US F-35 fighter jet in central Iranian airspace earlier in the day.

Later Friday, Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that a US Black Hawk helicopter was also hit by a projectile in Iranian airspace while searching for the pilot of the downed US fighter jet.

The United States has not officially commented on Iran's claim yet.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

TEHRAN -- Iran has rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.

The proposal was delivered to Iran through a "friendly" country on Thursday, Fars quoted an informed source as saying.

The source added that Washington has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, particularly after an Iranian strike targeted a US "military forces depot" on Kuwait's Bubiyan Island.

According to Fars, assessments suggest that the proposal was put forward following an intensification of the crisis in the region and "serious problems" for US forces resulting from their country's "miscalculation" of Iran's military capabilities.

The report added that Iran's response to the offer was not given in writing, but through the continuation of attacks in the battlefield.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Channel 12 News and other Israeli media outlets on Friday reported that the pilot of the US fighter jet that was shot down in Iranian airspace was safely rescued.

The outlets added that the fate of the navigator who was on the jet was unknown.

The channel also reported that the Israeli military has canceled strikes in the area in Iran, where searches are being conducted for the navigator, citing a senior Israeli official.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that Israel is assisting the United States with intelligence in locating the jet's crew.

Earlier in the day, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said that the aircraft was hit by advanced air defence systems operated by its aerospace division.

The development came amid heightened regional tensions following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and US military assets in neighboring Gulf countries.

TEHRAN -- Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported Friday that a US Black Hawk helicopter was struck by a projectile in Iranian airspace while involved in a search for the pilot of an American fighter jet that Iranian forces said they shot down earlier in the day.

TEHRAN -- Yadollah Rahmani, governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, called on Friday for residents in tribal and rural areas to assist authorities in locating "enemy pilots."

"The people of the province, particularly those in tribal areas, are doing their utmost to find these pilots," Rahmani said. "If enemy forces are spotted, capturing them alive is a priority."

He added that security, law enforcement, and military forces are closely monitoring the situation. Rahmani also said individuals who succeed in capturing or neutralizing hostile forces would be formally "commended" by the governorate.

Earlier on Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said its air defense systems had shot down a US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, adding the fate of the pilot remained unknown.