Doha: Commander of the Missing in Action Search Committee of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff has urged Qatar to allow an Iranian Air Force fact-finding team to enter the country and investigate the status of Iranian pilots held by the country. Brigadier General Seyyed Mohammad Baqerzadeh made the remarks on Sunday after Qatar's Foreign Ministry denied reports that Iranian pilots were being held captive in the country.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, a team of highly experienced Iranian Air Force experts has been waiting for several months to enter Qatar and conduct a field investigation. However, repeated obstruction and delays by Qatari officials have so far prevented the return of the Iranian pilots to the country.

Baqerzadeh also stressed the need for the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently follow up on the issue. He further warned that Kuwait had similarly avoided providing information about the fate of four Iranians held by the country.

The remarks came after Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots in secret detention following the downing of their aircraft during hostilities earlier this year.