WANA (Mar 18) – The Center for International Legal Affairs of the Legal Vice Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reacted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council’s procedural ruling regarding the case brought against Iran by Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom over the downing of a Ukrainian plane.

 

On March 17, the ICAO Council, in a procedural review of the case filed by the four governments, rejected Iran’s preliminary objections and merely affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the dispute.

 

In response, the Center for International Legal Affairs issued a statement outlining the following points:

 

1. The Islamic Republic of Iran honors the memory of the victims of flight PS752, most of whom were Iranian nationals, and continues to mourn this tragic incident.

 

2. Regarding the referral of the Ukrainian plane case to ICAO, Iran emphasized that the four governments disregarded its goodwill and transparency in handling the matter responsibly and chose to escalate it to ICAO. This, although Iran promptly prepared a technical report in the aftermath of the incident with the participation of experts, including representatives from the plaintiff countries. The report was submitted to all relevant states and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Additionally, Iran took extensive measures beyond its international obligations to support and compensate the victims’ families and prosecuted those responsible through its domestic judicial system.

 

3. Iran objected to ICAO’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of the complaint, arguing that the four governments failed to fulfill the prerequisite of negotiations before escalating the dispute. Iran, therefore, requested the Council to dismiss the case.

 

4. ICAO’s decision to assert jurisdiction was solely related to the preliminary stage of the case and does not indicate a ruling on the merits of the claims.

 

5. The Council’s recognition of its jurisdiction does not imply that Iran has violated the Chicago Convention. The substantive phase of the case, where such claims will be examined, has yet to take place.

 

6. The Center for International Legal Affairs reaffirmed that, in the upcoming substantive proceedings, it will utilize all available international legal mechanisms to defend Iran’s rights.