Where are Iran’s power plants that Trump has threatened to destroy?

President Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action, specifically targeting power plants and bridges, if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He issued an ultimatum with a deadline of April 7th, later extended, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges. While Trump has not specified which power plants would be targeted, Iran operates hundreds of power plants, mostly gas-fired, concentrated near major population centers like Tehran, Mashhad, and Isfahan. A recent US-Israeli strike damaged the B1 bridge near Tehran. Legal experts contend that targeting civilian infrastructure constitutes a violation of the laws of war. Iran denies holding direct talks with the US.

In April 2026, a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran. According to US President Donald Trump, the two crew members ejected, and while the pilot was quickly rescued, the weapons systems officer required a more complex rescue operation. Trump stated the airman, a Colonel, was rescued from deep within the mountains of Iran after evading capture for two days. The US president reported that two raids took place, one in broad daylight, and that the mission involved US forces spending seven hours over Iran. Trump indicated a firefight occurred between US and Iranian forces during the rescue, though Iran has not confirmed this. He plans to provide further details at a press conference.

Amidst the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, an American F-15E fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday, marking the first manned US aircraft downed since the war began in late February. While the pilot was quickly rescued, a second crew member was missing, prompting a race between the US and Iran to locate him. On Sunday, President Trump announced the successful rescue of the missing airman, hailing it as a "daring" operation. Chinese analysts acknowledge the rescue demonstrates US capabilities, while former PLA personnel highlight Iran's success in downing the aircraft as a morale boost and a sign of its continued threat. Iran had offered a reward for the airman's capture.

Despite the successful rescue of an F-15 crew member, the downing of the US warplane in Iran serves as a reminder of Iran's ability to retaliate against the US. The incident, occurring five weeks into a US-Israeli bombing campaign, marks the first US warplane shot down by hostile forces since 2003. While the exact cause of the downing is unclear, it highlights that US air superiority is not absolute. The rescue operation involved the loss of two C-130 Hercules transporters and damage to an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, resulting in over $250 million in lost and damaged airframes. The US deemed the extensive rescue politically necessary to prevent Iran from capturing the crew, which would have been a propaganda victory for Tehran.

After a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday, a search and rescue operation was launched to find the missing weapons systems officer. US President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that the airman was successfully rescued from a mountainous region of southwestern Iran, sustaining injuries but expected to recover. The US and Iran both initiated searches, with the IRGC reportedly offering a reward for the airman's capture. The US operation involved dozens of aircraft and a CIA tracking effort, while the BBC reports there was an engagement between US and Iranian forces during the rescue. Tasnim, an Iranian news agency, reported five Iranians were killed during the operation.

Following a "heavy firefight," the second US airman from a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran has been rescued, according to US President Donald Trump. The airman, who sustained injuries, was located after a multi-hour search and rescue operation involving numerous US aircraft. Trump described the rescue as "one of the most daring" in US history, noting the unprecedented nature of rescuing two pilots separately in enemy territory. The incident follows Iran's claim that it shot down two US warplanes on Friday, marking the first time it has done so. The airman is reportedly safe and sound.

In April 2026, a US F-15E fighter jet was shot down in Iran during the 37th day of the US-Israel war on Iran. President Trump confirmed that the second pilot was rescued by US forces after 48 hours, following a firefight with Iranian forces. The US and Iran were in a race to locate the airman, with Iran calling on the public to turn him over. Analysts suggest that capturing a US pilot would have been a significant victory for Iran and a blow to the US. The rescue occurred amidst escalating tensions, including Trump's threats to bomb Iranian energy plants and a 48-hour deadline for Iran to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and 26,500 injuries in Iran since the initial US-Israeli strikes.

President Trump confirmed the U.S. successfully rescued a second pilot from an F-15 fighter jet downed in Iran. The pilot, a colonel, was reportedly injured but safe after being behind enemy lines in the mountains of Iran. This rescue follows the successful retrieval of the first crew member, which was kept quiet to protect the second operation. The rescues resolve a crisis for the White House amid ongoing conflict with Iran, now in its sixth week. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have shot down another U.S. aircraft involved in the search for the missing officer in Isfahan province, though this has not been independently confirmed.