Tehran and Doha Dispute Fate of Iranian Pilots; Qatar Denies Allegations

Sardar Bagherzadeh, commander of the Missing Persons Committee of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, stated that a specialized Air Force team has been waiting for months to enter Qatar to assess the status of Iranian pilots. According to ISNA, he sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, alleging that Qatar is stalling the return of these pilots. Bagherzadeh also criticized the Kuwaiti government for failing to provide information regarding four Iranians allegedly held captive in that country. In response, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, categorically denied these claims on the X platform, labeling them misleading. He emphasized that Qatar acted in accordance with international law after the aircraft violated Qatari airspace and failed to respond to warnings. Al-Ansari added that Qatar had invited Iranian teams last April to review the details of search and rescue operations and to coordinate the handover of the remains of one pilot, but Tehran has yet to respond to the invitation.