Iran agrees to compensate downed plane victims’ families, Sweden says

Ukrainian aircraft was struck by two missiles and crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran airport on January 8, killing all 176 people on board

By AFP 2 July 2020, 7:05 pm

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Debris is seen from the crashed Ukrainian as authorities work at the scene in Shahedshahr, southwest of Tehran, Iran, on January 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Sweden said Thursday that Iran had agreed to compensate the families of the foreign victims of a Ukrainian passenger plane that was shot down outside Tehran in January.

The Boeing 737 aircraft was struck by two missiles and crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran airport on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

The Islamic Republic admitted days later that its forces accidentally shot down the Kyiv-bound jetliner.

“We have signed an agreement of mutual understanding that we will now negotiate with Iran about amends, compensation to the victims’ next of kin,” Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde told news agency TT, in a statement confirmed by her press secretary to AFP.

Rescue workers carry the body of a victim of the Ukrainian plane crash in Shahedshahr, southwest of Tehran, on January 8, 2020 (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

Linde said the agreement had been reached after negotiations with Iran and the countries with citizens among the victims.

While it was still unclear what sums would be paid out, Linde said there was “no doubt” that Iran would follow through on the compensation.

Many of the victims were Iranian-Canadians, but there were also victims from Sweden, the UK, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, including the nine crew members.