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Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane in ‘error’

Emergency services personnel walk amidst the wreckage after a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 carrying 176 people crashed near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran | Abedin Taherknareh/EFE via EPA

While apologizing, Tehran also blamed the incident on the United States ratcheting up tensions.

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Iran on Saturday took responsibility for the downing of an Ukraine International Airlines flight that killed 176 people, saying its military had shot down the plane by accident.

Earlier this week, Iran had rejected Western intelligence reports suggesting an Iranian missile shot down the plane, which had carried mostly Iranians, Canadians and Ukrainians.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said that an internal investigation conducted by the country’s armed forces had „regrettably“ found that „missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people.“

Offering „thoughts and prayers“ for the families of the dead, he added that „investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake.“

The aerospace division head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Amirali Hajizadeh, said that the plane had been mistaken for a cruise missile. “I wish I could die and not witness such an accident,” he added.

Their statements mark a significant reversal from Thursday, when Iran’s government claimed that reports of a missile bringing down the plane amounted to „psychological warfare“ against the country.

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said information about the plane’s downing should be made public after a meeting of the country’s top security body.

But while apologizing for the disaster on Saturday, Tehran also blamed the incident on the United States ratcheting up tensions in the region.

“Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster,” the country’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Twitter.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq.

Rouhani also attributed the plane’s downing to “the atmosphere of threats and intimidation by the aggressive American regime” in a statement.

“In order to defend ourselves against possible attacks by the American Army, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were on full alert, which unfortunately led to this terrible catastrophe taking the lives of dozens of innocent people,” he added.

Calls for full investigation

Reacting to the Iranian admission on Saturday morning, the leaders of Ukraine and Canada called for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of the people responsible.

“Ukraine insists on a full admission of guilt,” the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. „We expect Iran to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies, pay compensation and issue an official apology. The investigation must be full, open & continue without delays or obstacles.“

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded “transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims.”

„This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together,“ his office told AFP.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday afternoon described Iran’s admission as „an important first step.“ Four British citizens were on board the downed plane.

Johnson called for a „comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation“ as well as the repatriation of the bodies, and pledged to work together with Canada and Ukraine.

„We can all see very clearly that further conflict will only lead to more loss and tragedy. It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward,“ he said.

In a spokesperson statement, the EU’s diplomatic service said measures ought to be taken to avoid similar disasters in the future.

„In view of the commitments given by President Rouhani, the EU expects that Iran will continue to cooperate fully and undertake a comprehensive and transparent investigation, which should abide by international standards, into how this tragedy occurred,“ the statement added.

This story has been updated.

Source: politico.com
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