Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zarif rejected a story by MP Javad Karimi Qoddousi about the Foreign Ministrys wrong decision to let a plane carrying Saudi military officials leave Irans airspace after it became clear that the aircraft was flying over the country without a flight permission.
Karimi Qoddousi claimed on Tuesday that a Kyrgyzstan-bound plane carrying Saudi military commanders from the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam had entered Irans airspace on May 25. The lawmaker also claimed that the flight was tracked over the central city of Yazd, and Iranian fighter jets scrambled as soon as it became clear that the plane had no permission to fly in Irans airspace. He then accused the Foreign Ministry of allowing the intruding plane to fly back to Dammam while the Air Defense was trying to bring it down.
Zarif said his the ministry was informed of the event just on Tuesday, following the lawmakers story.
He said he made contacts with the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces yesterday, making it clear that the plane had been carrying oil experts.
It was a very ordinary event, the minister stressed, saying the flight had changed its destination and its starting point also contradicted the itinerary with which it had entered Irans airspace.
On these occasions, the Air Defense gives the foreign flight the option of landing or correcting its path, Zarif explained, saying the pilot of that flight decided to return home.
The Foreign Ministry did not have any role or information during any of those developments, Zarif stressed.
