The families of the Iranian victims of the Ukrainian plane shot down by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier this week have reportedly been warned not to speak to foreign media, or they will not receive their loved ones’ bodies.
“Iranian authorities have warned some of the families of the Iranian victims of the Ukrainian plane that if they want to receive their loved ones’ bodies, they must not give interviews to foreign-based, Persian-language media,” London-based, Persian-language TV channel Iran International reported late on Saturday.
The report came hours after exile-run broadcaster Radio Farda published an interview with family members of some of the victims.
Shahram Molani, a brother of Hiva Molani – killed alongside his wife and daughter in the plane crash – told Radio Farda that “not a single official or government entity” has been in contact with the families of the victims since the Ukrainian plane was shot down on Wednesday.
He also added that authorities have not yet returned the bodies of his brother and his family.
The sister of another victim, Ghanimat Azhdari, also spoke to Radio Farda, quoting her father as saying: “We will never forgive this crime.”
After days of denying any involvement, Iran admitted to shooting down flight PS752. All 176 passengers on board were killed.
