Qatar has rejected Iran’s claim that its forces captured three Iranian fighter pilots after their aircraft were shot down during attacks on Qatar in March, describing the allegations as misleading.

Majed Al Ansari, adviser to the Qatari prime minister and Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said Doha “categorically” denied the claims and questioned why they were being raised now, as diplomatic efforts continue to ease regional tensions.

In a post on X on Saturday, Al Ansari said Qatari authorities established contact with the Iranian pilots after they violated Qatar’s airspace and the trajectory of the incoming attack had been confirmed.

He said Qatari forces followed the rules of engagement and unsuccessfully attempted to communicate with the pilots before taking “the necessary measures” to defend the country in accordance with international law.

Al Ansari said the incident had been clarified through official channels at the time.

He added that Qatari search and rescue teams subsequently searched for the pilots’ remains and coordinated with Tehran over the handover of one pilot who was recovered.

According to Al Ansari, Qatar also invited an Iranian team to visit the country in April to receive a briefing on the search and rescue operation, but Tehran has yet to respond to the invitation.

The Qatari statement followed allegations by Iran that three of its pilots had been captured alive after two Su-24 fighter jets were downed during attacks on a military base in Qatar on March 2.

Mohammad Bagherzadeh, head of the Missing Persons Search Committee of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff, made the claim in a letter to International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric.

Bagherzadeh said one pilot, Majid Kazemi, was killed, while Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behrouzian were captured alive.

He accused Qatar of violating the pilots’ rights under the Geneva Conventions by preventing them from contacting their families and Iranian officials despite diplomatic efforts over the past six months.

Iran’s Missing Persons Search Committee called on the ICRC to interview the pilots allegedly being held in Qatar, provide Tehran with information about their condition and help secure their release.

The incident took place amid a wider regional conflict, with Iran saying its forces had targeted a military base in Qatar and that two Su-24 fighter jets were hit by air defences.

Qatar has rejected the account, maintaining that its authorities conducted search and rescue operations for the pilots, coordinated with Iran over the recovered remains and offered Tehran an opportunity to review the operation.