Iran makes arrests over Ukrainian plane downing

Iran makes arrests over Ukrainian plane downing
Tehran University students attend a memorial for the victims of last week’s Ukrainian plane disaster
Tehran struggles to contain fallout from the disaster as protests enter fourth day



Since the United States killed Iran’s most powerful military commander in a drone strike on Jan 3, Tehran has faced escalating confrontation with the West and unrest at home, both reaching levels with little precedent in its modern history.

Iran shot down the airliner on Wednesday when its military was on high alert, hours after it had fired missiles at US targets in Iraq. After days of denying a role in the air crash, it admitted it on Saturday, calling it a tragic mistake.




Video posts on Tuesday showed scores gathered peacefully at two Tehran universities. “Where is justice?” one group chanted. The extent of the unrest is difficult to assess because of limits on independent reporting.



Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said some of those accused of having a role in the plane disaster had been arrested, although he did not say how many or identify them. Most of those on board the flight were Iranians or dual nationals.






European powers put Iran nuclear deal on notice

France, Britain and Germany formally triggered the dispute mechanism in Iran's nuclear deal with world powers on Tuesday, the strongest step they have taken so far to enforce an agreement that requires Iran to curb its nuclear programme. The European powers said they had taken the step to avoid a crisis over nuclear proliferation being added to an escalating confrontation in the Middle East. In a statement, they said they still want the deal to succeed and were not joining a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran by the United States, which abandoned the deal in 2018 and has reimposed sanctions. Triggering the dispute mechanism amounts to formally accusing Iran of violating the terms of the agreement and could lead eventually to the reimposition of UN sanctions that were lifted under the deal. Iran has gradually rolled back its commitments under the accord since the US quit, arguing that it has the right to do so because of Washington’s actions. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned of a “serious and strong response” to the European move. In one of the strongest calls yet from Europe for a new agreement to replace the deal, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the way forward was to agree a new “Trump deal”.

Recent Messages ()

Please rate before posting your Review

Sort By:
Be the first one to review.
POLLDo you agree with NID's decision to defer its 40th convocation?
Pick your favorite and click vote
4 + 2 =