Iran Admits They Shot Down Civilian Plane, Blames US Anyway
Iranian officials admitted Saturday that they accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane this week, but claimed it was “U.S. adventurism” that led to this disaster that killed all 176 people on board.
A Boeing 737 passenger jet bound for Kyiv from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport and operated by a Ukrainian airline crashed Wednesday in Iran.
Iranian officials originally blamed the crash on a technical issue with the plane but acknowledged Saturday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had accidentally shot down the plane, according to Fox News.
The plane was shot down hours after the ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S troops.
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division, told state-run TV that he accepts “full responsibility” for shooting down the aircraft and “wished I was dead” when he heard about the crash.
Hajizadeh said that an officer made a “bad decision” to open fire on the plane he had mistaken for a cruise missile.
“We were prepared for an all-out conflict,” he said.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif still blamed the tragedy on the United States.
“A sad day,” he tweeted. “Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster.”
A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:
Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster
Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.
?— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020
“Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations,” he added.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani also tweeted “human error” was the cause of the tragedy and “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.”
Iran said 140 of the dead were Iranian. Other victims were citizens of Canada, Sweden, Britain, Afghanistan and Germany, according to the Ukraine Foreign Ministry.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the news in a tweet Saturday morning.
“We expect Iran to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies, pay compensation and issue an official apology,” he tweeted. “The investigation must be full, open & continue without delays or obstacles.”
This morning brings the truth.
Ukraine insists on a full admission of guilt. 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.— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 11, 2020
According to The Associated Press, Iran’s admission renewed questions that if Iran was worried about more U.S. attacks, why did it no shut down its international airport or airspace?
Ukraine International Airlines criticized Iran for this disastrous decision.
“It’s absolutely irresponsible,” Ukraine International Airlines vice president Ihor Sosnovskiy said. “There must be protection around ordinary people. If they are shooting somewhere from somewhere, they are obliged to close the airport.”
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
