Iran says Qatar is holding 3 fighter pilots captured after wartime crashes
Tehran says the three Su-24 pilots were shot down during a mission over Qatar and have been held for six months without access to relatives or Iranian officials; Doha has yet to respond
Iran claims Qatar is detaining three of its fighter pilots captured in March after their aircraft crashed in the Gulf state during the ongoing war. The pilots, whose Su-24 jets were shot down while executing strikes, have been held by Qatari forces for about six months. Iran's military spokesperson, Baqer Zadeh, stated that the Qatari government has not allowed the pilots to meet, interview, or communicate with their families or Iranian officials.
Iran has requested the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist in securing their release. Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, with President Donald Trump declaring the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway, as American territory if Iran is defeated. Iran has rejected the claim, emphasizing that the strait remains under its control.
The war's end, as per the June memorandum of understanding, is seen by Iran as separate from the reopening of the strait, which would require new demands from the U.S., including compensation and the withdrawal of American forces. In parallel, the United Arab Emirates reported that one of its vessels was attacked while attempting to cross Hormuz on Friday, further disrupting tanker traffic and driving oil prices to record highs.
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