(Canadian Pime Minister Justin Trudeau greets Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February February 14, 2020. EPA)
Iran refuses to co-operate fully after shooting down plane carrying dozens of Canadian citizens
February 16, 2020
Canada’s Justin Trudeau was under fire on Saturday for his warm embrace of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif despite the deaths of dozens of Canadian citizens when Iran shot down a passenger plane after it took off from Tehran’s airport last month.
Iranian officials were jubilant when the Canadian prime minister grasped Mr Zarif with both hands and exchanged greetings with a broad smile at the Munich Security Conference. Canada has no relations with Tehran and has been under pressure to push Iran for accountability and compensation for shooting down the Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board.
Tehran admitted its military shot down the jet but has so far refused to hand over the black box flight recorders to retrieve the data detailing the incident.
Conservative Canadian MP Peter Kent said Mr Trudeau had shaken hands “with Iran’s chief propagandist” and the families of victims expressed their dismay.
Responding to the backlash, which threatened to overshadow his visit to Munich, Mr Trudeau said he was working to secure a deal with the Iranians to send the black boxes to France.
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