IFP - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi has expressed deep regret over the crash of a passenger plane near the Russian capital, which claimed the lives of all the 71 people on board. 



In a statement on Sunday, Qassemi offered sympathy to the Russian nation and government, and the bereaved families of the victims.

The Russian airliner crashed earlier on Sunday after leaving Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, killing all 65 passengers and six crew on board.

The Saratov Airlines jet vanished minutes after take-off and crashed near the village of Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow.

The cause of crash is unclear. Investigators and emergency crews are working at the snow-covered site.

Eyewitnesses told Russian media that the jet was on fire as it plummeted.

Investigators said the causes they were considering included weather conditions, human error and technical failure – but they did not mention the possibility of terrorism.

The Antonov An-148 was en route to the city of Orsk in the Ural Mountains.

Pieces of wreckage and bodies were found spread over a large area. One of the flight recorders has been recovered, officials say.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and announced an inquiry into the cause of the crash.