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Iran plane crash: Pressure mounts on Tehran over delays to investigation into shooting down of passenger jet

All 176 passengers aboard the doomed flight were killed when it was shot down.

200203) -- TEHRAN, Feb. 3, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2020 shows rescuers working at the crash site of the Ukrainian passenger plane in Parand district, southern Tehran, Iran. Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said on Saturday that Iran and Ukraine are jointly investigating the black box of the downed Ukrainian plane in Iran, Tehran Times daily reported. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)
Image: Iran initially denied reports that one of its missiles had brought down the plane
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Foreign ministers from five countries - including the UK - have banded together to up the pressure on Iran and call for greater transparency over the shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner.

Officials from Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and the UK are meeting in London to find a way forward to persuade Tehran to allow them full access to all details surrounding the accidental shooting down of a Ukraine International Airlines plane in Iranian airspace a year ago.

They are also discussing seeking compensation for the families of the victims.

Each of the countries had citizens aboard the doomed flight. All 176 passengers were killed.

A pilot lays flowers to a memorial in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, for the victims of a Ukrainian 737-800 plane crash on the outskirts of Tehran. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Image: A pilot lays flowers at a memorial for the victims of the crash one year on

A statement issued by the group said they were looking for "a complete and thorough explanation... including
concrete measures to ensure that it will never happen again".

It added: "Our countries will hold Iran to account to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries."

In Tehran, military prosecutor Gholam Abbas Torki told state television that 10 Revolutionary Guards officers had been subject to disciplinary action, including dismissals or demotions, and that they would soon go on trial.

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However, he did not give a timeframe.

The Revolutionary Guards have said they shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane in error shortly after
take-off, mistaking it for a missile, at a time when tensions with Washington were high over the US assassination five days earlier of General Qassem Soleimani.

Last week, Iran said it had allocated $150,000 (£108,000) for the families of each victim.

On Friday, Ukraine urged Iran to pay full compensation to the families, without naming an amount. It has
previously demanded the compensation amount be negotiated.