Iran Ceasefire Deadline Nears, Trump Pressures with Ultimatum at Press Conference

Donald Trump, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine jointly attended a White House press conference today to explain the two-day search and rescue operation for an F-15E fighter jet weapon systems officer shot down in Iran during the US Easter holiday. During the hour-and-a-half press conference, Trump first stated that the F-15E fighter jet was shot down by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile during numerous flight missions, and that the opponent was somewhat "lucky" to hit it. The US military mobilized hundreds of troops for the rescue, destroying two old military aircraft to complete the mission, but did not mention the circumstances of the fighter jet's attack. He said that the US military had "eyes" at the crash site and the weapon systems officer's hiding place, implying that small drones might have been mobilized for the rescue operation. In addition, US media first reported on the 4th that a pilot was missing in the incident, and Trump claimed that the media had a leaker. He stated: "We will find him, we will go to the media that published the news, and demand his surrender and arrest in the name of national security." Caine pointed out that the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz was part of the rescue operation. The low-flying, slow-moving attack aircraft was attacked several times between the rescue forces and Iranian troops during the mission, and the pilot flew the damaged attack aircraft out of Iranian territory and ejected in a safer area. Trump reiterated that the ceasefire agreement deadline will expire on the evening of the 7th US Eastern Time, and by then, all of Iran's power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure will be destroyed. "The entire Iran can be taken down in one night, possibly tomorrow night." Hegseth added that today was the largest strike by the US military against Iran after the operation, and tomorrow will be even larger, but Iran still has a choice. Trump and defense and national security officials jointly held a press conference, emphasizing the success of the rescue operation, while issuing an ultimatum to the Iranian authorities, and also complaining that allies such as NATO, Japan, South Korea, and Australia did not participate in the Strait of Hormuz operation. Tehran authorities had expressed a strong stance against a ceasefire before the White House press conference, questioning whether the US military's bombing of civilian facilities might involve war crimes. The war between the US and Israel against Iran has entered its second month, and Trump has given two public speeches and accepted media interviews in the past week, with widespread attention on the development of the war and the economic impact of rising oil prices. (Edited by: Chen Yen-Chun) 1150407