Tehran: The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has urged Qatar Red Crescent to follow up on the status of three missing pilots through its related channels. Pirhossein Kolivand emphasized the development of bilateral cooperation between the national societies of Iran and Qatar, calling for pursuing the status of the three Iranian pilots in Qatar through that country's Red Crescent.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Kolivand also stressed expanding cooperation in rescue and relief, training, and the exchange of know-how in these fields. This cooperation can be further developed by renewing and updating the previous memorandum of understanding between the Red Crescent of Iran and Qatar, he stated. Kolivand suggested that a draft of a new memorandum of understanding be examined and finalized by the national societies of both countries, with the aim of having it signed in person by the two parties.

The Qatari Red Crescent should use its own channels to gather information on the three pilots' situation, so that, in keeping with the impartial humanitarian mandate of the Red Crescent and Red Cross, the necessary support can be extended to their anxious families, he noted. Earlier, Commander of Iran's Missing-in-Action Search Committee Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh had called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to send an air ambulance to Qatar to facilitate the urgent return of the Iranian pilots held there, whom he said are severely injured and in bad health.

He said the location where the Iranian prisoners are being held on water is unsuitable, urging the Qatari government to transfer them to land and an adequately equipped hospital as soon as possible to protect their health.