Tehran, Iran – The head of the Missing Persons Search Committee of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, Mohammad Bagherzadeh, revealed a serious deterioration in the health of the Iranian pilots detained in Qatar. He described their physical condition as extremely poor due to the unsuitable detention conditions.
Harsh detention conditions and demands to transfer them to the mainland
In statements carried by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Baqerzadeh explained that the Iranian pilots are being held at sea in unprepared locations lacking adequate medical care. He further urged Qatari authorities to expedite the transfer of the detainees to land-based hospitals for immediate treatment. He also demanded that a suitable environment be provided to ensure their safety and well-being.
A call for urgent international intervention
The Iranian military official called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene immediately by sending a fully equipped ambulance plane to Qatar. This step aims to expedite the return of the injured and ill pilots to Iranian soil as soon as possible, in order to avoid any serious health complications that could threaten their lives.
Background of the crisis between the two sides
The crisis stems from Iranian authorities’ earlier announcement in March that three Iranian pilots had been detained by Qatari authorities. This coincided with the period of the US-Iranian conflict. The Qatari Foreign Ministry had previously issued statements denying these claims. This makes the issue of the detained pilots one of the complex diplomatic issues unresolved between the two countries.
