Iran says delegation is investigating case of pilots allegedly detained in Qatar

Iran says a technical delegation from its Armed Forces General Staff has traveled to Qatar to investigate the case of three pilots Tehran believes are being held there.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the fate of the pilots remained a constant subject of diplomatic consultations. “A technical delegation from the Armed Forces General Staff also traveled to Qatar in recent days to conduct specialized investigations,” he said at a news conference.

Baghaei said Iran was continuing talks “with complete seriousness” and “will not give up defending the rights of these citizens until a final result is reached.” He gave no further details about the pilots’ condition. Iran’s armed forces said in late August that their health was “not good” and called for them to be transferred to a hospital “as soon as possible.”

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A technical delegation from the Armed Forces General Staff also traveled to Qatar in recent days to conduct specialized investigations.

Tehran says Qatar is holding pilots Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Barushian as prisoners. Iranian authorities say Qatari forces captured them alive after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during an operation against U.S. targets in March. A fourth pilot died, and his body was returned to Iran.

Iran had previously accused Qatar of obstructing efforts to establish the pilots’ whereabouts. Qatar denies holding the men as prisoners and had invited Iranian authorities to visit the country to resolve the dispute. Qatari authorities said Tehran had not responded to that invitation.

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We will not give up defending the rights of these citizens until a final result is reached.