Iran Forced Into Telling Truth About Doomed Flight – By VOA News Staff (VOA News) / Jan 12 2020
Iranian officials told the truth about the circumstances of a Ukrainian jetliner crash only after it became apparent that the evidence on the ground from the doomed flight would not allow the Iranians to continue to lie, according to a leading U.S. newspaper.
The plane crashed Wednesday, but Iran did not reveal that it had shot down the aircraft, killing all 176 on board, until Saturday.
The revelation that the government had lied for several days before revealing the truth prompted hundreds of people in several cities around the country to mount protests, calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ali Khomenei and chanting, “Down with liars” and “Death to dictator.”
On Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps admitted it had mistakenly shot down the Ukrainian International Airlines flight earlier in the week.
IRGC aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on state television, “I take full responsibility and I will obey whatever decision is taken.” He said he “wished” he “were dead” when he learned about the fate of the aircraft.
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