Tension Led to Plane Crash in Iran, Trudeau Issues Statement

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the tension surrounding Iran led to the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing, urging for a de-escalation of the situation. The crash claimed the lives of 57 Canadians, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“If there had been no tension, if the recent escalation in the region had not occurred, then all those Canadians would be at home with their families right now,” Trudeau said in an interview with Global TV.

“Such events occur in the context of conflict and war. Innocent people bear the lion's share of the burden, and (what happened) reminds us of the need to work toward de-escalation, to find paths where further conflict and killings do not occur,” he added.

According to him, there is a need for “accountability and some form of compensation” in such a complex situation involving Iran.

The Boeing 737-800, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s airport on the morning of January 8. A total of 176 people died, including 167 passengers from Iran, Ukraine, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Afghanistan, along with nine crew members.

On Saturday, Iranian military officials announced that the Ukrainian Boeing was shot down accidentally, attributing the incident to human error. The aircraft was flying near a military facility in Iran and was mistakenly identified as a “hostile target” by a surface-to-air missile. Iran reported that they were anticipating a strike from the U.S., which had prompted the country’s air defense to be placed on full combat readiness.

The plane was downed on the same day Iran launched strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. military personnel, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by U.S. forces.