Iran has leveled accusations against Qatar, alleging that the Gulf nation is hindering efforts to investigate the whereabouts of three Iranian pilots who disappeared amid recent hostilities. Tehran insists these pilots went missing during the conflict, while Qatar has firmly denied any involvement, stating it does not hold the pilots in question.
An official from the Iranian armed forces, Mohammad Bagherzadeh, noted that an expert team from the Iranian Air Force has been awaiting authorization for several months to travel to Qatar and look into the matter. Bagherzadeh urged Doha to grant this permission and appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to take an interest in the situation.
Previously, Iran reported recovering the body of Major Majid Kazemi, a pilot who perished during an incident involving the US Al Udeid Air Base located in Qatar. In contrast, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry representative, Majed al-Ansari, dismissed the claims that Iranian pilots were detained in their country. Al-Ansari explained that Qatar had established contact with the pilots after they reportedly breached Qatari airspace, taking defensive measures when attempts to communicate went unanswered.
Qatar maintained that its search and rescue teams had conducted operations to locate the missing pilots and any remains. Furthermore, Doha stated it coordinated with Tehran regarding the transfer of the remains of one pilot that had been found. According to Qatari officials, Iranian authorities were invited back in April to dispatch a team to Qatar to gather information about the search and rescue efforts; however, no response was received from Iran.
This dispute arises amidst ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and other regional players following the conflict’s escalation earlier this year. Qatar has been pivotal in diplomatic efforts to ease these tensions, acting as a crucial intermediary facilitating dialogue among the involved parties.