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| Iran's admission it shot down airliner is 'important first step', says Boris Johnson – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tehran says its military unintentionally shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, killing all 176 people onboard | |
| Boris Johnson has called Iran’s admission it shot down a passenger plane by mistake an “important first step” and said it “reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region”. | |
| In a statement, the prime minister said: | |
| A video is circulating on Twitter that purports to show the moment that the surface to air missile that downed UIA flight 752 was launched by Iranian Revolutionary Guards. | |
| Reuters is now running more detail on the comments by Ukraine International Airlines’ president and vice-president at the press conference they took earlier this afternoon, where they denied suggestions that their crew were in some way responsible for the tragic downing of their jet. | Reuters is now running more detail on the comments by Ukraine International Airlines’ president and vice-president at the press conference they took earlier this afternoon, where they denied suggestions that their crew were in some way responsible for the tragic downing of their jet. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, about the investigation into the downing of the aircraft, a statement from the Ukrainian president’s office said. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, about the investigation into the downing of the aircraft, a statement from the Ukrainian president’s office said. |
| The presidents have agreed to ask French specialists to decode the plane’s black box. Macron said the formal procedure to launch the international investigation had been started and he would visit Kiev. | The presidents have agreed to ask French specialists to decode the plane’s black box. Macron said the formal procedure to launch the international investigation had been started and he would visit Kiev. |
| The relatively quick admission by Iran that Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by mistake has drawn comparisons with how Russia handled the MH17 case. | The relatively quick admission by Iran that Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by mistake has drawn comparisons with how Russia handled the MH17 case. |
| Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine by a Buk surface-to-air missile on 17 July 2014. Russia has always denied it played any role in the tragedy, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. | Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine by a Buk surface-to-air missile on 17 July 2014. Russia has always denied it played any role in the tragedy, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. |
| Nick Waters, an investigator for Bellingcat, an independent investigative website which has been investigating the MH17 crash, has tweeted to say they had been preparing for a similar scenario to play out again with Iran denying involvement. | Nick Waters, an investigator for Bellingcat, an independent investigative website which has been investigating the MH17 crash, has tweeted to say they had been preparing for a similar scenario to play out again with Iran denying involvement. |
| Protesters were due to be gathering outside the BBC’s London HQ at midday to demonstrate against war with Iran, even as attention is deflected for the time being on to the issue of Iran’s accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner. | Protesters were due to be gathering outside the BBC’s London HQ at midday to demonstrate against war with Iran, even as attention is deflected for the time being on to the issue of Iran’s accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner. |
| The demonstration, organised by the ever-busy Stop the War Coalition, starts outside BBC Broadcasting House and will march to Trafalgar Square where speakers will address the rally. | The demonstration, organised by the ever-busy Stop the War Coalition, starts outside BBC Broadcasting House and will march to Trafalgar Square where speakers will address the rally. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, are among the prominent figures expected to join the demo, along with the musician Brian Eno and the standup comic Tez Ilyas. | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, are among the prominent figures expected to join the demo, along with the musician Brian Eno and the standup comic Tez Ilyas. |
| In a statement sent out ahead of the demonstration, Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: | In a statement sent out ahead of the demonstration, Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: |
| The chief of Ukrainian International Airlines, Evgeniy Dikhne, has rejected claims by Iran that the shooting down of its airliner was in some way prompted by a mistake by his crew. | The chief of Ukrainian International Airlines, Evgeniy Dikhne, has rejected claims by Iran that the shooting down of its airliner was in some way prompted by a mistake by his crew. |
| Speaking at a press conference arranged before Iran’s surprise admission of responsibility for shooting down UIA flight 752, Dikhne stressed that his company had received no indication from Iranian or international civil aviation authorities that it would be unsafe to fly over the country. He added: | Speaking at a press conference arranged before Iran’s surprise admission of responsibility for shooting down UIA flight 752, Dikhne stressed that his company had received no indication from Iranian or international civil aviation authorities that it would be unsafe to fly over the country. He added: |
| The vice president of UIA, Igor Sosnovskiy, continued, saying that Tehran airport had been fully open and operational, despite the tensions between Iran and the US. He spoke of the crew’s competency, who had clocked up thousands of hours of flight time. | The vice president of UIA, Igor Sosnovskiy, continued, saying that Tehran airport had been fully open and operational, despite the tensions between Iran and the US. He spoke of the crew’s competency, who had clocked up thousands of hours of flight time. |
| Iran should have closed the airport, Sosnovskiy said, and having failed to do so the country must take full responsibility for the downing of the jet and the lives lost. | Iran should have closed the airport, Sosnovskiy said, and having failed to do so the country must take full responsibility for the downing of the jet and the lives lost. |
| A thread here by Reza Khaasteh, a journalist with Iran Front Page news, translates in more detail the statements by the Revolutionary Guards’ Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh in a press conference in which he admits his unit’s responsibility for shooting down UIA 752. | A thread here by Reza Khaasteh, a journalist with Iran Front Page news, translates in more detail the statements by the Revolutionary Guards’ Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh in a press conference in which he admits his unit’s responsibility for shooting down UIA 752. |
| The head of the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said he “wishes he could die”, as his unit accepted responsibility for shooting down UIA 752. | The head of the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said he “wishes he could die”, as his unit accepted responsibility for shooting down UIA 752. |
| “I wish I could die and not witness such an accident,” Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in a video posted online by Iranian state TV on Saturday. | “I wish I could die and not witness such an accident,” Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in a video posted online by Iranian state TV on Saturday. |
| According to translations by Reuters, Hajizadeh says he told authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional missile attack, and that the plane was brought down by a short-range missile. | According to translations by Reuters, Hajizadeh says he told authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional missile attack, and that the plane was brought down by a short-range missile. |
| He says he partly blames the attack on the US, for its assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani on Iraqi soil last week, which heightened tensions in the region and led to a tit-for-tat strike by Iran on US bases. | He says he partly blames the attack on the US, for its assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani on Iraqi soil last week, which heightened tensions in the region and led to a tit-for-tat strike by Iran on US bases. |
| The former government minister Alistair Burt has commented on the Iranian ambassador’s tweeted apology, saying it is unprecedented and that he has never seen such comments from anyone in that capacity. | The former government minister Alistair Burt has commented on the Iranian ambassador’s tweeted apology, saying it is unprecedented and that he has never seen such comments from anyone in that capacity. |
| Burt is one of many on Twitter saying that Hamid Baeidinejad’s admission of guilt is very unusual in a world where issuing denials even in the face of incontrovertible evidence, is usually how states operate. | Burt is one of many on Twitter saying that Hamid Baeidinejad’s admission of guilt is very unusual in a world where issuing denials even in the face of incontrovertible evidence, is usually how states operate. |
| In a statement issued by Justin Trudeau’s office after Iran acknowledged the plane was brought down by its own armed forces, the Canadian prime minister said: | In a statement issued by Justin Trudeau’s office after Iran acknowledged the plane was brought down by its own armed forces, the Canadian prime minister said: |
| Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has joined calls for an investigation into the downing of UIA 752, as well as offering his condolences to the relatives of victims. | Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has joined calls for an investigation into the downing of UIA 752, as well as offering his condolences to the relatives of victims. |
| Khamenei on Saturday expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to “pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident”, according to the Associated Press. | Khamenei on Saturday expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the 176 victims, and called on the armed forces to “pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident”, according to the Associated Press. |
| Reuters earlier reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who answer directly to Khamenei, have said they will offer their own explanation and apology for the incident. | Reuters earlier reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who answer directly to Khamenei, have said they will offer their own explanation and apology for the incident. |
| The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has made his first comments on the Iranian admission of guilt today. | The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has made his first comments on the Iranian admission of guilt today. |
| He says the Canadian government expects “full cooperation from Iranian authorities” and that its officials “will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation”. | He says the Canadian government expects “full cooperation from Iranian authorities” and that its officials “will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation”. |
| Credit for Iran’s decision to apologise over the shooting down of UIA flight 752 should be given to the investigative news website Bellingcat, suggests Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling. | Credit for Iran’s decision to apologise over the shooting down of UIA flight 752 should be given to the investigative news website Bellingcat, suggests Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling. |
| Of course, Bellingcat was far from the only organisation reporting that the downing of the airliner was the result of an Iranian missile strike. But its impressive geolocation work cannot have hurt in pinning down the truth. | Of course, Bellingcat was far from the only organisation reporting that the downing of the airliner was the result of an Iranian missile strike. But its impressive geolocation work cannot have hurt in pinning down the truth. |
| Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has demanded that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of the airliner, as well as pay compensation and apologise. | Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has demanded that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of the airliner, as well as pay compensation and apologise. |
| “We expect Iran ... to bring the guilty to the courts,” Zelenskiy wrote on Facebook, calling also for the return of remains, according to comments translated and reported by AFP. | “We expect Iran ... to bring the guilty to the courts,” Zelenskiy wrote on Facebook, calling also for the return of remains, according to comments translated and reported by AFP. |
| “We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction,” Zelenskiy added. | “We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction,” Zelenskiy added. |
| He said he wanted “total access” to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an official apology. | He said he wanted “total access” to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an official apology. |
| Our writers Luke Harding and Peter Beaumont have written the story of the final moments of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752. | Our writers Luke Harding and Peter Beaumont have written the story of the final moments of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| A lot of U-turns on Twitter this morning. Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, has tweeted his apologies for circulating misleading statements. | A lot of U-turns on Twitter this morning. Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, has tweeted his apologies for circulating misleading statements. |
| The head of the Ukrainian state security service (SBU) says Iran’s statement confirms one of his organisation’s working theories about what caused the crash. | The head of the Ukrainian state security service (SBU) says Iran’s statement confirms one of his organisation’s working theories about what caused the crash. |
| Contrary to what some experts had said initially, the SBU thought Iran’s anti-aircraft missile system had been operated manually rather than automatically, Ivan Bakanov said, according to Reuters. | Contrary to what some experts had said initially, the SBU thought Iran’s anti-aircraft missile system had been operated manually rather than automatically, Ivan Bakanov said, according to Reuters. |
| Bakanov’s statement came as the head of the airline operating the plane said he had been sure that it was not his staff who were at fault. | Bakanov’s statement came as the head of the airline operating the plane said he had been sure that it was not his staff who were at fault. |
| We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe, Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook. “They were our best guys and girls. The best.” | We did not for a second doubt that our crew and our plane could have been the cause of this terrible, awful air catastrophe, Evgeniy Dikhne said on Facebook. “They were our best guys and girls. The best.” |
| Iran has admitted that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner as it flew from its capital, killing all 176 people onboard, after days of rejecting western intelligence claims that it had been hit by an Iranian surface to air missile. | Iran has admitted that its military unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner as it flew from its capital, killing all 176 people onboard, after days of rejecting western intelligence claims that it had been hit by an Iranian surface to air missile. |
| A military statement early on Saturday via state TV blamed “human error” for the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 on Wednesday. It was followed by an apology from Iran’s president. | A military statement early on Saturday via state TV blamed “human error” for the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 on Wednesday. It was followed by an apology from Iran’s president. |
| The downing of the airliner came in the midst of rising tensions between Iran and the US. Iran had just launched reciprocal rocket attacks on US bases in the Middle East after Trump ordered the assassination one of Iran’s top military leaders with a drone strike in Baghdad last week. | The downing of the airliner came in the midst of rising tensions between Iran and the US. Iran had just launched reciprocal rocket attacks on US bases in the Middle East after Trump ordered the assassination one of Iran’s top military leaders with a drone strike in Baghdad last week. |