Tehran: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, has reiterated the country's demand for Qatar to clarify the status of three Iranian fighter pilots who have been missing since a military operation in response to US-Israeli attacks. Baqaei emphasized that Iran will pursue their fate through all available bilateral, multilateral, and legal channels.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Baqaei, during his weekly press briefing, addressed various domestic, regional, and international issues, with a particular focus on the missing pilots. As their whereabouts remain unknown, Baqaei stated that the pilots are presumed to have been captured alive. He also took the opportunity to commemorate the anniversary of Iranian Prisoners of War (POWs) returning to the country, a day marked annually on August 17, and vowed that Iran would continue to seek answers about the pilots.

Baqaei highlighted the steps taken by the Foreign Ministry, including correspondence with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the embassies of Iran and Qatar, to determine the fate of the missing pilots since the outbreak of the conflict. He drew parallels with the hardships faced by Iranian POWs in the past, emphasizing Iran's commitment to resolving the current situation.

Reflecting on Iran's historical experiences with foreign aggression, Baqaei criticized past invasions and interventions, notably by Iraq in the 1980s and more recently by the US and Israeli forces. He argued that these aggressions demonstrated a miscalculation by Iran's adversaries regarding the resilience of the Iranian nation and its armed forces. Baqaei also cited the US-orchestrated 1953 coup in Iran as a costly example of foreign intervention, which has had long-lasting effects on Iran's foreign relations.

Baqaei concluded by expressing hope that Iran's history of perseverance against foreign interventions, sanctions, and pressures would inspire the nation to continue defending its sovereignty and to work towards a prosperous future.