Trump threatens media with jail over Iran leak as Pentagon outlines rescue mission

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, on Monday, April 6, said the administration is seeking to identify a leak related to a US military rescue operation in Iran, warning that media organizations could face legal consequences if they do not disclose their sources.

The remarks come after details about the rescue of a downed service member were reported before a second airman had been recovered.

Trump said the disclosure complicated the mission and may have alerted Iranian forces. 

Trump warns media of jail time over leak tied to Iran rescue

Trump said information about the rescue of the first service member was leaked before the second individual had been brought to safety, describing the disclosure as harmful to the operation.

“We're looking very hard to find that leaker,” he said, adding that the leak may have informed Iranian authorities about the presence of another missing airman.

“Iran did not know that a second service member was missing until the leaker shared information,” Trump said.

“All of a sudden, they know that there's somebody out there,” he added, referring to Iranian forces.

He said the situation became more complex after the information was made public. “They see all these planes coming in. It became a much more difficult operation because a leaker leaked that we have one, we've rescued one, but there's another one out there that we're trying to get,” he said.

Trump added, “so in addition to a hostile, very talented, very good, very evil military, we had millions of people trying to get an award… but we have to find that leaker, because that's a sick person.”

He said efforts were underway to identify the source of the leak and suggested legal action against media outlets.

“We think we'll be able to find it out,” Trump said. “Because we're going to go to the media company that released it, and we're going to say, 'National security, give it up or go to jail.'” Trump also said, “The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesn’t say, and that doesn’t last long,” though he did not identify the journalist or organization involved.

Pentagon details timeline and scale of rescue operations

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided further details about the rescue missions, including the timing and coordination between efforts to recover both service members.

He described the first mission as rapid and high-risk.

He said the broader effort to recover both individuals involved continuous coordination over an extended period.

A communication line remained active for nearly 46 hours between the time the F-15 fighter jet crashed and the successful rescue of the second airman.

“From the moment our pilots went down, our mission was unblinking,” Hegseth said. “The call never dropped. The meeting never stopped. The planning never ceased.”

Hegseth also addressed the personnel involved in the operation and the message it sends.

“To those heroes who planned and executed these rescues, your nation stands in awe,” he said. “And to our adversaries watching from Tehran, let this be a clear message: the United States military will go anywhere at any time to protect our own and complete the mission.”