As tensions in the Middle East refuse to die down, Iran on Sunday accused Qatar, which played a key mediator role in talks with the US to end hostilities, of obstructing efforts to investigate the fate of three pilots Tehran claims were captured during the war.
Earlier in March, Iran reported that one pilot was killed and others went missing after a sortie to Qatar, according to an AFP report.
Tehran wants to send an inquiry team of experts to examine the status of missing personnel, according to an Iranian official.
He called on Doha to authorise the team to travel to Qatar. Highlighting that the search and rescue teams carried out their duties, he noted, “In this context, we note that Qatar’s search & rescue teams, which possess world-class expertise & capabilities, carried out their duties to the fullest in searching for the remains of the pilots.
Iranian armed forces’ General Mohammad Bagherzadeh said, “A team of experts from the Iranian Air Force has been waiting for several months to travel to Qatar to conduct an on-site investigation. “Qatar also issued an invitation for an Iranian team to visit Qatar to be briefed on the details of the search & rescue operations in April, but the Iranian side has yet to respond to the invitation,” he continued.
