Iran’s initial denial of claims, based on US intelligence, that the Boeing 737 was hit by a missile sparked days of protests and international calls for a full and transparent investigation.
Canadian Foreign Minister on Thursday pledged to push Iran for answers about the downing of a passenger plane mistakenly amid high tensions after the US killed one of the top commanders of Tehran.
The plane hit and all 176 people on board were killed just hours after Iran fired attacks on US troops stationed in Iraq in retaliation for drone strikes that killed his most prominent general, Qasem Soleimani.
“In the wake of the terrible tragedy as there are a lot of questions,” said Francois-Philippe Champagne at a meeting in London.
“The family wants answers, the international community wants answers, the world is waiting for an answer and we will not rest until we get it.”
Champagne was speaking after talks with counterparts from countries whose citizens were among those killed when the plane hit after takeoff from Tehran last week.
World ‘will not rest’ until answers on jet downed by Iran: Canada
Fifty-seven victims on board the flight Ukraine International Airlines Kiev-bound is Canada.
Iran’s initial rejection of the claim, based on US intelligence, that the Boeing 737 hit by a missile sparked days of protests and international calls for a full and transparent investigation.
But the Islamic republic then receives targeted jets was “accidentally”. President Hassan Rouhani called it an “inexcusable error”.
In a joint statement after talks Thursday, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Britain issued a five-point plan for cooperation with Iran.
It called for “full and unhindered access” to foreign officials to and in Iran and “thorough, independent and transparent international investigation”.
Iran should “take full responsibility for the fall of the flight PS752 and (acknowledge) his duty to the families of the victims and other parties – including compensation”.
In addition, it calls for those responsible to be held to account in the independent criminal investigation and trial in accordance with international standards of due process of law and human rights.
‘Grief and anger’
Champagne said at a press conference that their deceased relative closure is needed and there is a need to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“When you accept full responsibility there are consequences that come from it,” he said.
“Today is not the day to blame, today is the day for an answer,” he added, saying the family has “sadness and anger, and they want us to stand up to them”.
The previous minister took part in a candle-lighting ceremony and a moment of silence at the Canada House in London to commemorate the victims.
The United States said on Tuesday that he supports three EU countries that launched the process of charging Iran with failure to observe the 2015 agreement limiting its nuclear program.
Britain, France, and Germany began the process of dispute in the wake of the death of this Soleimani.
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Thursday confirmed reports that US President Donald Trump threatened EU3 with a 25 percent tariff on car exports if it continues to support the deal.
British minister Andrew Murrison said the government wanted to keep the deal alive, judging it is the “best hope” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
President Rouhani said earlier on Thursday that the “daily enrichment” of uranium the country is now “higher” than before the conclusion of its 2015 nuclear deal.
He did not specify whether Iran is now producing a greater quantity of enriched uranium, or whether it was enriching uranium 235 isotope ore at a higher level than before the deal.
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