OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Iran must take full responsibility for mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians.
Trudeau addressed the nation Saturday morning and said he is “outraged and furious” following Iran’s admission that it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner over Tehran.
“Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure that the family deserves,” he says.
The Prime Minister added he had a conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, which is extremely rare, considering Canada broke off diplomatic ties in 2012.
Late Friday night Iran’s Revolutionary Guard ended days of denials amid mounting evidence from Canada and other Western allies, including videos of the incident that have gone viral, it admits it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian plane.
It says Iran’s forces had beefed up its air defence and was at the highest level of readiness, fearing American retaliation after its missile attacks on us bases in Iraq.
Canadian investigators and consular officials in Turkey as Iran begins approving visas for their entry into the country.
Trudeau says it is too early to say when the bodies of Canadian victims will return home.
He says compensation for families from the Iranian government will be a part of the discussions moving forward.