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The first body of a Canadian who died in the Tehran plane crash has come home, the country's foreign minister said Tuesday, as the government pushed Iran to respect the wishes of family members who want their loved ones buried in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne confirmed the repatriation of a Canadian killed in the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines jet near Tehran almost two weeks ago, but he offered no other details because of the family's request for privacy. The minister said other families would also be bringing their loved ones' remains back to Canada, but he did not give specifics, citing their privacy wishes.

Champagne said a number of victims have already had their remains buried in Iran, according to the wishes of their families. The repatriation of Canadian remains has emerged as an issue because Iran does not recognize dual citizenships and claims anyone born in Iran as Iranian.

"Every time that I receive an allegation that the wishes of the family will not have been respected we are taking these allegations seriously," Champagne said in Winnipeg.

He also said Iranian authorities have assured Canada they would respect families' wishes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that by respecting the wishes of families, Iran would also be respecting the principles of Islam.

"We recognize that it is a challenge that Iran does not recognizes double citizenship, but the focus that we've had on supporting the families has been to ensure that the families' wishes are respected in regards to burials," Trudeau said Tuesday in Winnipeg after a cabinet retreat.

"Respecting the wishes of the families lines up not with a question of citizenship, but it lines up also with international laws and practice and with principles around Islam for burials."

All 176 people on Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 were killed when the plane crashed outside Tehran earlier this month after being shot at by two Iranian surface-to-air missiles.

Ottawa has confirmed that included 57 Canadian citizens and 29 permanent residents of Canada.