Sadly, it is now confirmed that 17 Swedes died in the plane crash in Iran earlier this week. UD spokesperson, Anna Lundbladh, told news bureau TT that seven people had Swedish citizenship and that the other ten were nationally registered (folkbokförd) in Sweden.
Speaking to DN, Ann Linde, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that Sweden had no independent confirmation that an Iranian missile shot down the plane. “We have a crash expert who is available, if wanted or needed (ställt till förfogande).
In her conversation with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Linde stated that Sweden is requesting a full, transparent, independant and thorough inquiry. “We are asking for complete access” she said.
In his conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Löfven said they had agreed that the information that Iran had shot down the plane increased the need for a expeditious, complete and transparent investigation. “We were also agreed that the affected countries need to have the possibility to contribute with national expertise and be given complete access to the investigation. We agreed to keep in close contact with the other affected countries” Löfven said to DN.
Sweden is stopping all flights between Sweden and Iran until further notice, SvD reports. In a press release, the Swedish Transport Agency (transportstyrelsen) said the stop was due to uncertainty over the reasons for the crash. The agency has also issued a strong recommendation to all airlines to avoid crossing the region’s airspace. “We are doing this from an air safety perspective” the transport agency’s director for sea and air Gunnar Ljungberg stated, “and in consideration for our passengers.”