OTTAWA: Canada wants complete clarity in shooting down the Ukrainian jet by Iran, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Trudeau demanded that Iran provide Canada with “full clarity” on the shutdown near Tehran of a Ukrainian airliner that killed all 176 aboard, including dozens of Canadian citizens.
Trudeau said he made the demand in a call with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, who admitted earlier Saturday that the airliner was mistakenly shot down by Iranian missiles.
At a televised press conference, Trudeau said he told Rouhani the admission was “an important step” but “many more steps must be taken.”
“A full and complete investigation must be conducted,” he said. “We need full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred.”
“Iran must take full responsibility,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister said he insisted to Rouhani that Canada be allowed to participate in the investigation.
Tehran plane crash: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
Three members of a Canadian rapid deployment team were on their way to Iran and should be on the ground within hours to support families of the Canadian victims, Trudeau said.
Additional team members — two transportation investigators and 10 consular representatives who will help with the victims’ identification and repatriation — will follow, he said, adding that the Iranians were working on granting visas.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 2012, complicating their current contacts.
By Ottawa’s count, 57 Canadian citizens, many of them dual Iranian nationals, were aboard the Ukraine International Airlines flight when it crashed January 8 shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s airport.
In addition to Iranians and Canadians, there were victims from Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and Britain.
Revolutionary Guards admitted the plane was mistaken for a cruise missile and was shot down with a short-range missile.
Read more: Ukraine wants Iran to punish those responsible, pay compensation
