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


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.

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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack