Under the Third Geneva Convention, a prisoner of war (POW) is a member of an opposing nation's armed forces who is captured during armed conflict. POWs must be treated humanely, housed in safe conditions, allowed access to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and repatriated after the end of hostilities. They cannot be tried for the lawful act of fighting. The captor nation must inform the prisoner's home country and the Red Cross of the capture. In the 2026 U.S.-Iran war, the missing U.S. Air Force weapons systems officer from the downed F-15E is believed to be alive in Iran. If Iran holds the officer as a POW rather than returning them under Article 118 of the Third Convention, it would trigger formal diplomatic and legal processes that complicate any ceasefire negotiation.