Zarif, Canadian Counterpart Discuss Ukrainian Airliner Crash in Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne exchanged views on the deadly crash of a Ukrainian airliner near the Iranian capital on and issues of mutual interest.
In the telephone conversation, Zarif and Champagne expressed regret over the deaths of passengers and crew on board the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that his country expects to play a big role in Iran’s probe of the airliner crash that killed 63 Canadians, including those with dual Iranian and Canadian nationalities, even though the two nations do not have diplomatic ties.
All 179 people on board the Boeing 737, including nine crew, were killed when the jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport on Wednesday morning.
The plane operated by Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) was bound for Kiev.
Iranian emergency service officials said the passengers of the doomed plane included 147 Iranians and 32 foreign nationals.
