Iran Urges Qatar to Transfer Detained Pilots

Iranian officials have intensified calls for Qatar to transfer detained Iranian pilots from water to a land-based hospital, citing deteriorating health and unsuitable conditions aboard their current location. Mohammad Bagherzadeh, head of the Missing Persons Search Committee, urged the Red Cross to send an air-evacuation medical mission to expedite the pilots’ return to Iran. He also emphasized adherence to the Geneva Conventions, pressed Kuwait to facilitate a meeting with Iranian detainees, and sought to enable family contact through video calls. Multiple reports reiterate the urgency of relocating the detainees to a properly equipped facility and involve the ICRC in arranging medical transfer. Iran maintains the pilots are prisoners in Qatar, while Qatar denies holding them, creating a dispute over the pilots’ whereabouts and status. The situation has drawn regional and international attention, with no independent verification available of the pilots’ location or condition.