IRGC: Captured U.S. Pilot to Be Treated Under International Law — Iran Deploys Troops to Borders

Tehran — Senior Iranian officials came out this Thursday with unusual statements countering the U.S. narrative of the war, in an effort to clarify Iran’s position before the domestic public and to prevent Washington’s version of regional developments from taking root.

The spokesperson of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spoke about the U.S. pilot, whose fighter jet was shot down yesterday and who ended up in the hands of Iranian forces. He said that any pilot captured in the future would be treated “strictly in accordance with the law and with respect for international legal standards.” The fate of the pilot captured yesterday is still under investigation, he added.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Iranian army’s ground forces declared that his soldiers are deployed along Iran’s borders. He expressed hope that no military surprise would occur that would require the use of force, but said it would be “an honor to be present on the battlefields” if such a scenario were to arise.

The statements come at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, while U.S. President Donald Trump said last night that the war is “probably nearing its end” and that he has spoken directly with Tehran — claims that Iranian diplomats dismissed, saying “no one believes this.”

Source: Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/17/iran-war-live-trump-says-us-nearing-end-of-war-claims-tehran-direct-talks)