Pentagon Denies Pressuring Pilots for '60 Minutes' Interview After Iran Incident

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon officials allegedly pressured two crew members of an F-15 downed over Iran in April to give an interview on CBS's "60 Minutes," according to CNN sources. Initially, Hegseth reportedly opposed the interview, fearing he would be asked to participate himself. Following a closed-door meeting with the rescued servicemen, one crew member, codenamed "Bravo," agreed to the interview, while the other, "Alpha," declined. The identities of the pilots have not been officially released by U.S. authorities.

CNN suggested the situation indicates an attempt by the administration to influence public perception of the ongoing war with Iran, which remains unpopular. The Pentagon vehemently denied these claims. Pentagon spokesperson Sean કેટલી called the CNN report "an absolute lie," asserting that each pilot made their own decision about participating in the program, as it concerned their personal experiences. He added that the military aimed to ensure operational security and protect sources and methods.

The F-15 was shot down during the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. One pilot was rescued on the day of the crash, while the weapons systems operator was extracted by U.S. special forces approximately 36 hours later in a separate operation. Earlier reports indicated the U.S. military faced new dangers due to the conflict with Iran, with Hegseth receiving concerning intelligence regarding the campaign against Iran.