ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan claimed Friday that Tehran is decoding sensitive documents allegedly left behind by US pilots whose aircraft were shot down in Iran earlier this month, saying American rescue operations were aimed at recovering the documents rather than the aircrew.

On April 4, Iran shot down two US warplanes with crew aboard inside the country. One service member was rescued soon after, while another remained missing as Tehran offered a reward for information leading to the pilot’s capture amid US rescue efforts. 

US forces later recovered the missing crew member as part of large-scale rescue operation, with reports emerging that 155 US aircraft were involved in the recovery.

“Based on civilian reports of aircraft and helicopter sightings, our forces moved in, engaged them, and, praise be to God, brought them down,” Radan said in an interview with state broadcaster aired early Friday, describing the downing of two US warplanes earlier this month.

After saying US forces were “forced to bomb the aircraft and helicopters that were there and flee the area” following the downing of the two aircraft, Radan added that “of course, very good documents have been obtained by us.”

“We are busy decoding them, God willing, and soon we will perhaps inform the public of what they need to know,” he added. 

Radan further raised questions about US rescue operations to recover the pilot, saying, “Where in the world would you send several C-130s, several military jets, Hermes [drones], and so on, just for one pilot?”

 The interviewer echoed the claims, saying the US operations were taking place more than 100 kilometers from where they should have been.

In early April, unverified social media footage appeared to show US search-and-rescue operations for pilots in southern Iran, while state television claimed the operation involved Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft.

Shortly after, provincial state TV announced a bounty from law enforcement authorities for the US pilots in Boyer-Ahmad province, with additional reports offering thousands of dollars for information on their whereabouts.

“Normally, if this were the case, it would be an emergency landing and a quick exit from that location,” Radan added. 

Radan claimed that the US was preparing “to announce a surprise” and that “they had all their stations ready to announce a victory,” adding that the effort ultimately failed.

Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan claimed during a Friday interview that Tehran is decoding documents allegedly left behind by US pilots whose aircraft were downed in Iran earlier this month, saying US rescue operations were likely aimed at recovering the documents rather… pic.twitter.com/R9WvCraiK0

— The New Region (@thenewregion) April 24, 2026

The comments followed US President Donald Trump's extension of a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, hours before its expiry, at Pakistan’s request, with US naval operations continuing to enforce a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has not yet announced its position on the extension after boycotting talks with the United States in Pakistan on Wednesday.