Iran disputes Qatar, Kuwait accounts of captured Iranian personnel, demands to investigate

According to an Iranian military official, Qatar should permit an Iranian team to investigate the situation of captured pilots, who Tehran claims were apprehended by Qatari forces. The official, Mohammad Baqerzadeh, emphasized that an Iranian Air Force expert and a fact-finding team have been waiting for months to enter Qatar. Qatar denies having any Iranian pilots in its custody.

The country stated that its search and rescue teams discovered the remains of one pilot after Iranian aircraft entered Qatari airspace in March without responding to communication attempts. Qatar invited Iran to review its search and rescue operations but has not received a response from Tehran. Baqerzadeh accused Qatari officials of repeatedly delaying the investigation and preventing the pilots' return to Iran.

He also called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently address the case. Furthermore, Baqerzadeh alleged that Kuwait is withholding information about the whereabouts of four Iranians held in the country. In May, Iran reported that the four individuals were affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards and were on a maritime patrol when they entered Kuwaiti territorial waters due to a navigation issue. Kuwait contends that the four were suspected of plotting hostile actions against the nation.