Iran announces arrests in 'painful and unforgivable' downing of Ukrainian passenger jet

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's judiciary announced Tuesday that "extensive investigations have taken place and some individuals are arrested" in connection with last Wednesday's rocket attack on a Ukrainian International Airlines flight leaving Tehran. Iran's Revolutionary Guard admitted Saturday that it had accidentally shot down the plane, killing all 176 people on board, after mistaking it for a U.S. missile. Iranians have been in the streets protesting the government's initial cover-up. The majority of passengers on the plane were Iranian and Canadian.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suggested in a televised speech that "the judiciary should form a special court with a ranking judge and dozens of experts," because after this "painful and unforgivable" mistake, "the entire the world will be watching this court." Rouhani said the military's acceptance of responsibility was "a first good step," but "the responsibility falls on more than just one person" and those found culpable "should be punished."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.