Canada asks Iran to submit to binding arbitration over Flight PS752 downing

In a push to hold Iran accountable for its military shooting down Flight PS752 in 2020, Canada is asking that country to submit to binding arbitration.

The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 issued a joint statement on Wednesday.

“We, Ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, have taken concrete action today to ensure that our efforts to hold Iran to account for the unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (Flight PS752) can progress to the dispute settlement phase,” said the statement via Global Affairs Canada.

The feds are making the push following the 2020 tragedy which left 176 people dead, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.

“The Coordination Group remains committed to pursuing efforts to hold Iran accountable for its multiple breaches of its international legal obligations pursuant to several treaties,” the statement continued.

“This action is part of our broader approach to ensuring there is transparency, justice and accountability the victims and their families.”

On Jan. 8, 2020, a Ukrainian Airlines flight bound for Kyiv, Ukraine was shot down by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard minutes after taking off from the Tehran airport.

Iran initially lied about the cause of the tragedy in the days following but ultimately admitted to shooting down the plane.

Reports that have emerged since the incident have accused the Iranian regime of tampering with the electronic devices and misidentifying the remains of some of the passengers killed.

The reports have accused Iranian authorities of a “systematic coverup” of the cause of the crash.

Family of flight victims ‘appreciates’ request to Iran

Hamed Esmaeilion, speaks on behalf of the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims. His wife and nine-year-old daughter were killed when Flight PS752 was shot down.

He tells CityNews they welcome the request for Iran to submit to binding arbitration.

“We have waited long for this procedure to be started. It could have been done at the end of summer,” he said, noting the war in Ukraine delayed the process.

“This is important that they go after anybody who has a role in the downing of Flight PS752 and we have to appreciate what these affected countries are doing and we’ll wait to see what happens in six months.”

Despite welcoming the decision, Esmaeilion thinks the Iranian regime will use delay tactics to stall the investigation.

“I don’t think that they’re going to accept it. From day one, we said Iran is not going to cooperate and we have the same belief right now,” he said.

Esmaeilion and the Association of Families of Flight PS752 have been working since the crash to hold the Iranian regime accountable for the shooting down of the airline.

“We never forgot and we never forgave, and we’re going to continue to the end of this time that they have committed to find the truth and see justice is served one day,” he said.

-With files from The Canadian Press