Key facts
- Iran claims Qatar is holding its pilots and is delaying an investigation into their fate.
- Qatar denies holding any Iranian pilots.
- Qatar states Iranian aircraft violated its airspace.
- Qatar announced that its search and rescue teams found the remains of one pilot.
- Iran has requested Qatar to allow an investigative team to enter the country.
An Iranian military official stated that Qatar should allow an Iranian team to investigate the fate of pilots whom Tehran claims are being held there. Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of the Committee for the Search for Missing Persons of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, accused Qatari officials of repeatedly delaying the investigation and preventing the pilots' return to Iran. Qatar denies holding any pilots, stating they violated its airspace and did not respond to contact attempts. Qatar's search and rescue teams recovered the remains of one pilot and contacted Iran to coordinate the handover.