WEB DESK: Iran on Saturday urged Qatar to free three Iranian pilots whose aircraft went down during the recent Middle East conflict, though Doha denied any detention of the pilots.
Previously, Iran reported that one pilot was killed and others went missing after a mission to Qatar in March. The news of their alleged capture had not been made public until now.
“Three Iranian pilots were taken captive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the conflict,” stated General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of Iran’s armed forces, according to Fars news agency.
He identified the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian, claiming they have been in Qatari custody for six months. Bagherzadeh’s letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross appealed for their release, urging that the pilots have not been allowed to contact their families.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We categorically deny the claims regarding the detention of Iranian pilots and are surprised by these false allegations.”
He added that Qatar conducted thorough search and rescue operations for the pilots and has been in contact with Iran regarding the situation. Ansari also mentioned that Qatar had invited an Iranian team to visit and review the search efforts, but Iran has yet to accept.
**Recovery of Pilot’s Remains**
Last month, Iran announced it had recovered the body of Pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March. This base hosts key elements of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), including its air and special operations forces, and is the largest US military installation in the region.
In early March, Qatar’s defense ministry confirmed it had shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers. It remains uncertain whether these were the same aircraft involved in the recent incident, amid ongoing regional tensions following retaliatory strikes by the US and Israel that ignited the conflict.
This marked the first time Qatar reported shooting down an Iranian aircraft since the war erupted on February 28. Diplomatic efforts led to a ceasefire in April, ending nearly six weeks of fighting, followed by peace negotiations initiated in June—though those talks later collapsed.
Since then, Iran and the US have engaged in sporadic clashes, mainly around southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar also faced attacks on its territory and shipping in the Strait following the breakdown of the truce, even as it continued mediating peace talks with Pakistan.
While hostilities have decreased since late July, incidents involving vessels in the Strait persist, highlighting ongoing regional instability.
