Doha had previously denied that it was holding the Iranian pilots. Qatari officials stated that they had violated their country’s airspace earlier this year.
Last week, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its invitation to an Iranian delegation to visit the country and discuss the situation regarding the pilots remained open. The Iranian military welcomed this move and requested the necessary cooperation.
Four other Iranian nationals are also being held in Kuwait. Bagherzadeh said that Kuwait’s agreement to allow the Iranian ambassador to meet with the “four Iranian detainees” held in that country offered “a glimmer of hope”.
Iran claims that the four were linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and entered Kuwaiti territorial waters after their journey by sea encountered obstacles. Kuwait, however, maintains that they are suspected of planning hostile acts against the country.