Iran Will Not Transfer Ukrainian Plane’s Black Boxes to Other Countries

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stated that Tehran will not independently begin the analysis of the black boxes from the downed Ukrainian International Airlines aircraft, nor will it transfer them to other countries. This was stated in an interview with American NBC News on February 14.

Referring to the rules of international aviation law, Zarif noted that Tehran has the right to conduct an investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing 737, but he also admitted the technical incapacity of his country in this matter. According to the minister, Iran will not be able to analyze data from the black boxes without software, cables, and additional information from the United States or other Western countries.

Zarif mentioned that Iran has requested assistance from Washington to analyze the black boxes but received a refusal.

According to Iran’s Foreign Minister, the black boxes are currently unopened, but no one is working on their analysis. “We will not touch the black boxes without the presence of all interested parties,” he assured.

It is recalled that the Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashed on January 8 near Tehran's airport. All 167 passengers and crew members on board were killed.