Iranian state TV has reportedly urged people in a rural province southwest of Tehran to look for a US fighter pilot after Tehran claimed it shot down an American warplane on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, a local channel in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said a US pilot had ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran.

An anchor reportedly told viewers: “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize.”

The same channel is said to have initially urged viewers to “shoot them as soon as you see them” if they spotted Americans, before later changing the message and instead asking for co-operation with police.

It has been claimed that American forces are also looking for the pilots, however this is yet to be verified.

Tasnim reports that US helicopters, planes and reconnaissance drones are involved in the search.

Washington has previously denied similar Iranian claims about downed US aircraft, but the Associated Press said this is the first time Iran has gone on television asking the public to hunt for a suspected American pilot.

The US hasn’t yet commented on Iran’s latest claim.