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Will the truth about the plane crash in Iran that claimed 176 lives ever come out? Or will the accident forever bear the mark of Iran trying to deflect any blame? Was flight PS752 shot down?

An international investigation is important

A broadly composed international group is most naturally supposed to investigate the accident. Iran should hardly be used as a leader, as the suspicion that Iran accidentally shot down the plane is there. France identifies itself as a neutral party and perhaps they should lead such an investigation.

In any case, it is important that all available information is put on the table. The black boxes should be examined outside of Iran. France stands out as the most natural for this.

Claims the plane was shot down

Both Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say the plane was probably shot down by accident by Iran. Justin Trudeau says intelligence confirms this. Iran, for its part, denies the allegations.

Iran, for its part, denies that the plane was hit by a missile. Perhaps not surprisingly. This shows that a wide-ranging international investigation must take place.

Probably shot down intentionally

If this is a shooting down, it is unlikely to be intentional, but a shooting down as a result of the tense situation in the area. I therefore find it reassuring that Trump and Justin Trudeau emphasized that it is probably a misunderstanding. Imagine how Iran’s air defenses were on alert. In this case, the downing may be due to them being a little too vigilant with what they thought was a foreign missile and mistaking the plane for a missile. But I emphasize that this is speculation and not something I am establishing.

It would hardly be in Iran’s interest to inflict even more international isolation on the country, which this may entail. Several airlines are now not flying to Iran as a result of the accident and it is hardly in Iran’s interest.

I don’t know what happened to Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv. But a broad international investigation is necessary in which all available information is presented. The black boxes must become available for the investigation. If Iran refuses to allow the investigation to have access to them, a big question will forever be there.