Iran disputes Qatar, Kuwait accounts of captured pilots

Iran has challenged the narratives presented by Qatar and Kuwait concerning the capture and whereabouts of its pilots, insisting on its right to investigate the situation. Iranian authorities are seeking permission for a team to enter Qatar to probe the fate of pilots whom Tehran claims were detained by Qatari forces.

Qatar, however, firmly denies holding any Iranian pilots. Doha reported that its search and rescue operations located the remains of one pilot following an incident in March where an Iranian aircraft allegedly violated Qatari airspace and failed to respond to communication attempts. Qatar stated it had invited Iran to review the details of its operations and coordinate the handover of remains, but received no response.

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Qatari officials have repeatedly delayed the investigation and prevented the pilots' return to Iran.

Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of Iran's Committee for the Search for Missing Persons, accused Qatari officials of deliberately delaying the investigation and obstructing the pilots' return to Iran. He urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene and expedite the case. Baqerzadeh also alleged that Kuwait is similarly withholding information regarding four Iranian nationals held within its borders.

According to Iran, these four individuals were members of the Revolutionary Guards on a maritime patrol when their aircraft entered Kuwaiti territorial waters due to navigational issues. Kuwait, conversely, maintains that the four were suspected of planning hostile actions against the country. The conflicting accounts highlight a tense diplomatic situation surrounding the missing pilots.

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Kuwait is similarly withholding information about the fate of four Iranians held in Kuwait.