Iran has demanded the release of three pilots allegedly captured by Qatar following the downing of two Iranian fighter jets during a military operation that marked the start of the US‑Iran war.
In a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagherzadeh named pilots Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian – claiming they had been detained for six months. He also revealed that the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was returned after he died during the same operation on 2 March 2026.
Qatar categorically denied the claim, calling the allegations misleading and asserting that it had taken appropriate measures under international law to defend its airspace. The foreign‑affairs spokesperson said contact had been made with the pilots after they violated Qatari airspace, but a response had not been received.
The Iranian officer urged a fact‑finding team to investigate, noting that a team had been denied entry for months, while Qatar had offered an invitation in April. It remains unclear whether Tehran will accept the proposal to review the search and rescue operation.
