Iran accuses Qatar of thwarting probe into fate of pilots

Iran has accused Qatar of obstructing an investigation into the whereabouts of three Iranian pilots, according to <source 598e1041-6e1>. The Gulf nation denies capturing the pilots, who were reportedly involved in a mission against the United States at Al Udeid air base in March. The Islamic republic had initially reported one pilot killed and others missing, but did not claim they had been captured at the time.

A team of Iranian Air Force experts has been awaiting permission to visit Qatar, but delays by Qatari authorities have made the return of the pilots to Iran seemingly impossible, General Mohammad Bagherzadeh stated, as reported by Tasnim news agency.