Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has said the country presumed that three military pilots missing since an operation in March were being held captive, adding Iran would pursue their fate through legal and international forums despite its diplomatic engagement with Qatar, Iranian media reports.

“Until the circumstances are clarified, we presume that the three missing pilots are being held captive, and we will use all available legal and international channels,” Baghaei said in a weekly press briefing.

He said four pilots took part in an operation on March 2 and the body of one of them was later returned to Iran.

Shortly after their disappearance, diplomatic efforts began and included correspondence with the International Committee of the Red Cross and consultations through embassies, he said.