Iran does not intend to compensate Ukraine's largest air carrier, Ukraine International Airlines, for the downing near Tehran in January 2020 of its Boeing 737 passenger jet.
According to the head of the Central Insurance Organization of Iran, Gholamrez Soleimani, the plane was not insured by Iranian insurance companies, Reuters reports.
"The Ukrainian plane is insured by European companies in Ukraine and not by Iranian (insurance) companies," said Gholamreza Soleimani, Reuters reported citing local media.
"Therefore, compensation should be paid by those European companies," Soleimani said.
The statement refers to the airplane and does not apply to the expected compensation to the victims' families.
European air insurers are yet to comment on the Iranian side's statement.
PS752 downing in Iran: background
- On January 8, 2020, Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 passenger jet flight PS752, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff from Tehran Airport.
- All 176 people on board were killed, including 11 Ukrainian nationals – nine crew and two passengers. Among victims are also citizens of Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK.
- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani admitted that the Ukrainian liner had been shot down as a result of an unintentional "human error," and promised to bring those responsible to justice.
- On June 9, media reported that Iran had accused six persons in the PS752 downing case.
- On July 20, the flight recorders were delivered to Paris.
- On July 24, it was reported that data from the black boxes had confirmed external interference in the aircraft's operation.
- On July 29-30, Kyiv hosted the first round of negotiations with Iran regarding compensation to relatives of PS752 victims.
- On August 10, Iran said it did not plan to compensate UIA for the downing of the Boeing 737 passenger jet.