Iran
In this file photo taken on December 18, 2020 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a COVID-19 briefing at the Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Ontario. Photo: Lars Hagberg / AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said Canada would hold Iran accountable for the downing of a passenger jet over Tehran last year.
A total of 176 people were killed when Ukrainian Airlines flight PS752, bound for Kiev, was shot down over Tehran on January 8, 2020. Iran initially denied shooting down the plane, before saying that it mistook the plane for a missile amid heightened tensions with the US following the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in neighbouring Iraq.
“We will continue to ensure that Iran is held to account for its actions, that there be truth and justice and full accountability to those who are responsible for this terrible, terrible tragedy," said Trudeau to reporters in Ottawa, adding that Canada was working with international partners to this end.
Many onboard were residents or citizens of Canada returning from Iran after the winter holidays.
Ukraine, Canada and the families of those killed aboard this week blasted a report by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO), which blamed the shooting down of the plane on an “air defense operator” for identifying the plane as a “hostile target.”
“The report makes no attempt to answer critical questions about what truly happened, it appears incomplete and has no hard facts or evidence,” the Canadian government said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that they will “soon disclose” the results of their own investigation.
Relatives of the victims have previously told Rudaw English of intimidation and harassment by Iranian authorities following the crash, including monitoring families visiting the crash site on the anniversary of the tragedy.
A total of 176 people were killed when Ukrainian Airlines flight PS752, bound for Kiev, was shot down over Tehran on January 8, 2020. Iran initially denied shooting down the plane, before saying that it mistook the plane for a missile amid heightened tensions with the US following the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in neighbouring Iraq.
“We will continue to ensure that Iran is held to account for its actions, that there be truth and justice and full accountability to those who are responsible for this terrible, terrible tragedy," said Trudeau to reporters in Ottawa, adding that Canada was working with international partners to this end.
Many onboard were residents or citizens of Canada returning from Iran after the winter holidays.
Ukraine, Canada and the families of those killed aboard this week blasted a report by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO), which blamed the shooting down of the plane on an “air defense operator” for identifying the plane as a “hostile target.”
“The report makes no attempt to answer critical questions about what truly happened, it appears incomplete and has no hard facts or evidence,” the Canadian government said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that they will “soon disclose” the results of their own investigation.
Relatives of the victims have previously told Rudaw English of intimidation and harassment by Iranian authorities following the crash, including monitoring families visiting the crash site on the anniversary of the tragedy.
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