Iranian forces are currently searching for a missing US pilot after two US warplanes were downed over Iran and the Gulf. The search is focused on the mountainous region of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, with local authorities urging residents to assist in capturing the pilot. If captured, the pilot would be considered a prisoner of war, providing Iran with significant leverage in its ongoing conflict with the US. This situation raises the stakes for the US, which has already faced economic repercussions from the war, including rising gas prices that have surpassed $4 per gallon in many states. The US has previously designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, emphasizing its history of using hostage diplomacy as a bargaining tool. The potential capture of a US service member could further escalate tensions and impact US domestic politics, particularly with the upcoming midterm elections. The Biden administration is also seeking to increase the defense budget to $1.5 trillion, marking a significant military spending expansion.