On March 17, 2025 the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council based in Montreal, Canada, held oral hearing on its jurisdiction over the dispute on the claim of the International Coordination and Response Group for the Victims of Flight PS752. 

Within this dispute, Ukraine, Canada, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have put forward claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The standing of the Coordination Group is based on Iran’s violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) in connection with the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on January 8, 2020, over Tehran.

Iran tried to object to ICAO Council jurisdiction, attempting to escape responsibility.

However, by secret ballot, the ICAO Council rejected Iran’s Preliminary Objection and decided that it has jurisdiction to hear the dispute initiated by the Coordination Group. 

The Coordination Group has established that the violation of Article 3bis of the Chicago Convention, which obliged Iran not to use weapons against Flight PS752, a civilian aircraft in flight, falls within the mandate of the ICAO Council. The dispute therefore moves to the merits stage.

The aim of Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom remains unchanged: to hold Iran accountable for its violations of international law in these proccedings, as well as in other proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

On this day, our thoughts are with the families of all the victims of the downing of Flight PS752. Our joint efforts are aimed at restoring justice and commemorating their close ones.