Iran's missile attacks on US targets did not aim to kill the American soldiers, a senior Iranian commander said after United States President Donald Trump said that no US troops were hurt in Wednesday's strike on its airbase in Iraq.

<ul>
	<li>The US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran. The five-page resolution emphasized that if President Trump wants to take the US to war, he would need authorization from Congress. The resolution&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/an-attack-in-the-homeland-may-come-with-little-or-no-warning-us-department-of-homeland-security-272207">Read more&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>US President Donald Trump while addressing a re-election campaign rally in &nbsp;Toledo, Ohio said he was ready to launch retaliatory strikes after Iran hit US bases in Iraq. Trump in the rally said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-were-ready-to-retaliate-after-iran-strikes-solemanis-killing-was-american-justice-trump-at-campaign-rally-in-ohio-273289">Read more</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The tension between the US and Iran saw a dramatic escalation last week after the US killed Iran's top military commander&nbsp;General Qasem Soleimani in a strike in Baghdad International Airport. The crisis&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-oil-workers-leave-iraq-air-strike-on-iranian-leader-qassem-soleimani-272049">Read more</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Trump addressed the nation from White House and said that these missile attacks did not harm any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanting to de-escalate tensions. Iran strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iran-not-looking-for-war-air-strike-in-iraq-part-of-our-response-says-irans-envoy-to-india-273023">Read more</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Iran had hundreds of missiles ready and when Tehran launched missiles on Wednesday it had used "cyberattacks to disable (US) plane and drone navigation systems," the US President said. Iran's strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-condemns-us-air-strikes-as-unacceptable-and-dangerous-271127">Read More</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Soleimani was one of Iran's most popular public figures. He was laid to rest in his hometown Kerman early on Wednesday morning after massive funeral processions in several major cities across&nbsp;Iran. During the funeral&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-killing-of-iranians-general-qasem-soleimani-and-its-consequences-271884">Read more</a>&nbsp;</li>
	 
	&nbsp;
</ul>

Watch video:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/house-votes-to-restrain-trumps-iran-war-powers-273285/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Iran's missile attacks on US targets did not aim to kill the American soldiers, a senior Iranian commander said after United States President Donald Trump said that no US troops were hurt in Wednesday's strike on its airbase in Iraq.

Iran's missile attacks on US targets did not aim to kill the American soldiers, a senior Iranian commander said after United States President Donald Trump said that no US troops were hurt in Wednesday's strike on its airbase in Iraq. The US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran. The five-page resolution emphasized that if President Trump wants to take the US to war, he would need authorization from Congress. The resolution Read more US President Donald Trump while addressing a re-election campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio said he was ready to launch retaliatory strikes after Iran hit US bases in Iraq. Trump in the rally said Read more The tension between the US and Iran saw a dramatic escalation last week after the US killed Iran's top military commander General Qasem Soleimani in a strike in Baghdad International Airport. The crisis Read more Trump addressed the nation from White House and said that these missile attacks did not harm any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanting to de-escalate tensions. Iran strikes Read more Iran had hundreds of missiles ready and when Tehran launched missiles on Wednesday it had used "cyberattacks to disable (US) plane and drone navigation systems," the US President said. Iran's strikes Read More Soleimani was one of Iran's most popular public figures. He was laid to rest in his hometown Kerman early on Wednesday morning after massive funeral processions in several major cities across Iran. During the funeral Read more Watch video:

Iran missile attack news: Solemani's killing was American justice, says Trump at campaign rally in Ohio

Ukrainian airliner crash in Iran&nbsp;killed all 176 people on board. Canada's Prime Minister&nbsp;Justin Trudeau&nbsp;citing intelligence said on Thursday that the crash had occurred due to an Iranian surface-to-air missile, adding that it "may well have been unintentional".

<ul>
	<li>Washington had concluded that with the&nbsp;high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-all-passengers-aboard-ukrainian-airplane-killed-in-crash-272841">Read more</a></li>
	<li>The US believes Iran shot down the plane by mistake. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airlines-crash-western-intelligence-agencies-iran-and-ukraine-dismiss-theory-of-missile-downing-boeing-737-273157">Read more</a></li>
	<li>The plane was airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when the heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-plane-crash-investigators-consider-several-leads-including-missile-strike-technical-malfunction-act-of-terror-273238">Read more</a></li>
	<li>US President Donald Trump said he did not believe the crash of the airliner was due to a mechanical issue. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-boxes-of-ukranian-boeing-737-airline-found-iran-273062">Read more&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>The Ukrainian airliner took off at 6:12 am on Tuesday and was given permission to climb to 26,000 feet (7,925 m). It crashed six minutes later near the town of Sabashahr. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-boxes-of-ukranian-boeing-737-airline-found-iran-273062">Read more&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Iran has formally invited the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to take part in its investigation and the agency has agreed to assign an investigator. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-with-180-aboard-crashes-in-iran-272823">Read More&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>&nbsp;Boeing is still reeling from two deadly crashes of 737 MAX planes in five months that led to the plane's grounding in March 2019. The 737-800 that crashed was built in 2016 and is the prior generation of the 737 before the MAX. Boeing has built about 5,000 of those planes, which have a good safety record. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intelligence-evidence-indicates-boeing-airliner-was-shot-down-by-iranian-surface-to-air-missile-trudeau-273282">Read more</a></li>
	<li>The FAA had banned US&nbsp;carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the hours after Iran's attack on US-led forces in Iraq. Several other airlines also diverted flights.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-boeing-737-airliner-turned-was-headed-to-airport-when-it-crashed-iran-civil-aviation-authority-273145"> Read more&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

Watch Video:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fineprint-iran-plane-crash-what-do-we-know-about-the-crash-273258/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

Ukrainian airliner crash in Iran killed all 176 people on board. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing intelligence said on Thursday that the crash had occurred due to an Iranian surface-to-air missile, adding that it "may well have been unintentional".

Ukrainian airliner crash in Iran killed all 176 people on board. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing intelligence said on Thursday that the crash had occurred due to an Iranian surface-to-air missile, adding that it "may well have been unintentional". Washington had concluded that with the high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane. Read more The US believes Iran shot down the plane by mistake. Read more The plane was airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when the heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected. Read more US President Donald Trump said he did not believe the crash of the airliner was due to a mechanical issue. Read more The Ukrainian airliner took off at 6:12 am on Tuesday and was given permission to climb to 26,000 feet (7,925 m). It crashed six minutes later near the town of Sabashahr. Read more Iran has formally invited the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to take part in its investigation and the agency has agreed to assign an investigator. Read More Boeing is still reeling from two deadly crashes of 737 MAX planes in five months that led to the plane's grounding in March 2019. The 737-800 that crashed was built in 2016 and is the prior generation of the 737 before the MAX. Boeing has built about 5,000 of those planes, which have a good safety record. Read more The FAA had banned US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the hours after Iran's attack on US-led forces in Iraq. Several other airlines also diverted flights. Read more Watch Video:

Iran plane crash news: Iran formally invites US transport board to investigate Boeing airliner crash

The United States Secretary of State lashed out at Iran saying that he is sure that Iranian missiles shot down the Ukrainian airline which led the killing of 176 people. Watch report: #US #Iran #UkrainianAirline #Boeing #Ukraine

Today Tonight: US lashes out at Iran, levies new sanctions

Boeing has released hundreds of internal messages that contained harshly critical comments about the development of the 737 MAX, including one that said the plane was designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys. Watch video to know more. #Boeing #BoeingEmails # 737MAX #US #Iran #Ukraine

Fineprint: Boeing emails reveal Max 737 designed by clowns

When Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad, the immediate question which arose was what was the top Iranian commander doing in Iraq?

The answer is business as usual.

Soleimani who was the chief of the ‘Quds Force’ or the foreign unit of the elite Iranian paramilitary ‘Revolutionary Guards’ has been a frequent visitor to Iraq. He was at the forefront of the Iranian mission to hegemonise Iraq.

The two neighbours fought a long and bloody war in the 1980s but much has changed since then. Iran began extending its influence on Iraq after the latter was invaded by the US&nbsp;in 2003.

But it was in 2005 when Iran got a breakthrough. Parliamentary elections were held in Iraq under US&nbsp;supervision. What followed was a power vacuum left by the Americans who were unacquainted with the sectarian divisions in Iraq.

This is where the Iranians triumphed. Iraq like Iran was an exception in the Middle East, in the sense that both were Shia-majority nations. Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated government which attacked Iran had been toppled.

In his testimony to the US&nbsp;Congress, Kenneth Pollack, the CIA analyst on the Middle East had said, “By late 2006, Iran was putting money on every number on the roulette wheel, providing weapons, cash, information, training and other forms of support to a wide variety of groups—Shia, Sunni, Kurdish and others."

It's speculated that Iran’s aim has been to penetrate not only into Iraqi politics but its society, economy and military.

The mission to dominate Iraq involved funding Shiite militias, forging alliances with politicians and intimidation.

In fact, Abu Muhandis- the deputy commander of the ‘Popular Mobilisation Forces’- an umbrella group of Iraqi Shiite militias was part of Soleimani's convoy in Baghdad. He was also killed in the US strike.

Iran’s dominance over Iraqi politics has, at times, been so significant that it even managed to influence the appointment of the country’s Prime Minister. This was evident when Soleimani convinced Kurdish and Shiite leaders to back Nouri al-Maliki as the PM in 2006.

Iraq is perhaps the most strategically located country in the Middle East. It shares a border with most major nations in the region- Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Kuwait.

Dominance over Iraq can open the road to hegemony over Middle East. But that is not the foremost reason why Iran intends to make Iraq a client state.

The shadow of the Iran-Iraq war of whose Soleimani was a veteran still looms large. Iran plans to ensure that Iraq never becomes strong enough to pose a threat again.

Post-2014, Shiite militias led by Soleimani aided an ailing Iraqi army in the fight against the Islamic State. The Iranian influence kept growing, so much so that in 2015, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal Al-Saud remarked, “Iran is taking over Iraq.”

But challenges to Iranian hegemony also increased over a period of time. During the 2019 anti-government protests, many Iraqis demanded an end to Iran’s dominance. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Ahead of his death, Soleimani was tasked with quelling this very anger against Iran along with business as usual. &nbsp; 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad, the immediate question which arose was what was the top Iranian commander doing in Iraq? The answer is business as usual.

When Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad, the immediate question which arose was what was the top Iranian commander doing in Iraq? The answer is business as usual. Soleimani who was the chief of the ‘Quds Force’ or the foreign unit of the elite Iranian paramilitary ‘Revolutionary Guards’ has been a frequent visitor to Iraq. He was at the forefront of the Iranian mission to hegemonise Iraq. The two neighbours fought a long and bloody war in the 1980s but much has changed since then. Iran began extending its influence on Iraq after the latter was invaded by the US in 2003. But it was in 2005 when Iran got a breakthrough. Parliamentary elections were held in Iraq under US supervision. What followed was a power vacuum left by the Americans who were unacquainted with the sectarian divisions in Iraq. This is where the Iranians triumphed. Iraq like Iran was an exception in the Middle East, in the sense that both were Shia-majority nations. Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated government which attacked Iran had been toppled. In his testimony to the US Congress, Kenneth Pollack, the CIA analyst on the Middle East had said, “By late 2006, Iran was putting money on every number on the roulette wheel, providing weapons, cash, information, training and other forms of support to a wide variety of groups—Shia, Sunni, Kurdish and others." It's speculated that Iran’s aim has been to penetrate not only into Iraqi politics but its society, economy and military. The mission to dominate Iraq involved funding Shiite militias, forging alliances with politicians and intimidation. In fact, Abu Muhandis- the deputy commander of the ‘Popular Mobilisation Forces’- an umbrella group of Iraqi Shiite militias was part of Soleimani's convoy in Baghdad. He was also killed in the US strike. Iran’s dominance over Iraqi politics has, at times, been so significant that it even managed to influence the appointment of the country’s Prime Minister. This was evident when Soleimani convinced Kurdish and Shiite leaders to back Nouri al-Maliki as the PM in 2006. Iraq is perhaps the most strategically located country in the Middle East. It shares a border with most major nations in the region- Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Kuwait. Dominance over Iraq can open the road to hegemony over Middle East. But that is not the foremost reason why Iran intends to make Iraq a client state. The shadow of the Iran-Iraq war of whose Soleimani was a veteran still looms large. Iran plans to ensure that Iraq never becomes strong enough to pose a threat again. Post-2014, Shiite militias led by Soleimani aided an ailing Iraqi army in the fight against the Islamic State. The Iranian influence kept growing, so much so that in 2015, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal Al-Saud remarked, “Iran is taking over Iraq.” But challenges to Iranian hegemony also increased over a period of time. During the 2019 anti-government protests, many Iraqis demanded an end to Iran’s dominance. Ahead of his death, Soleimani was tasked with quelling this very anger against Iran along with business as usual. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Qasem Soleimani and Iran’s plan to dominate Iraq

Massive crowds attended the funeral procession of Qassim Soleimani in Tehran. From the young to the old - Iranians see the U.S. strike as an assault on their country and their pride. Watch this report from Gravitas. #Gravitas # SoleimaniKilled

Gravitas: Soleimani killed, Thousands mourn the General's death in Tehran

Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-aircraft-was-not-hit-by-a-missile-irans-civil-aviation-chief-273368">Ukrainian airliner</a> that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake.

Iran, which has denied the Boeing 737-800&nbsp;was downed by a missile, said it could take one or two months to extract information from the voice and flight data recorders. It said it could ask Russia, Canada, France or Ukraine if it needed help.

Tehran also said the probe might take one or two years.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intelligence-evidence-indicates-boeing-airliner-was-shot-down-by-iranian-surface-to-air-missile-trudeau-273282">Intelligence evidence indicates Boeing airliner was shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile: Trudeau</a>

Ukraine said it could not rule out a missile strike but had not confirmed this. The Ukraine International Airlines flight to Kiev from Tehran crashed on Wednesday when Iran was on alert for a US military response hours after firing missiles at US targets in Iraq.

The incident adds to international pressure on Iran, after months of tension with the United States and then tit-for-tat military strikes. Washington killed an Iranian general last week in a drone attack in Iraq, prompting Tehran's missile launches.

On social media, many Iranians voiced anger at the authorities for not closing the airport after Iran's missile launches. Many passengers were Iranians with dual nationality.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-rumours-missile-caused-plane-crash-make-no-sense-273278">Iran says rumours missile caused plane crash make 'no sense'</a>

"We prefer to download black boxes in Iran. But if we see that we can't do that because the boxes are damaged, then we will seek help," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, told a news conference in Tehran.

State television earlier showed the battered black boxes, saying their information could be downloaded and analysed.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing intelligence from Canada and other sources, has blamed an Iranian missile for bringing down the plane that had 63 Canadians on board, although he said it "may well have been unintentional".

"The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile," he said.

Ukraine's general prosecutor asked Canada "to provide information available to the Canadian side that may facilitate criminal investigations" into the crash.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-us-plane-crash-news-updates-iran-formally-invites-us-transport-board-to-investigate-boeing-airliner-crash-273301">Iran plane crash news: Iran formally invites US transport board to investigate Boeing airliner crash</a>

Error

France’s BEA air accident agency said on it would be involved in the investigation into the Ukrainian crash. BEA helped analyse data from the flight recorder of a Boeing that crashed in Ethiopia last year.

"It is important that as much clarity as possible is made and as quickly as possible," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

A US official, citing satellite data, said Washington had concluded with a high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane in error.

The official said the data showed the plane airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected. There was an explosion in the vicinity and heat data showed the plane on fire as it fell. US military satellites detect infrared emissions from heat.

US President Donald Trump told reporters he believed "somebody could have made a mistake".

A defence expert said the plane's radar signature would have been similar to a US military transport plane.

The New York Times said it had obtained a video appearing to show an Iranian missile hitting a plane near Tehran airport.

Iran denied the airliner had been hit by a missile, saying such reports were "psychological warfare against Iran."

"All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said that, after coordinating with Ottawa, a delegation of 10 Canadians were heading to Tehran to follow up on Canadian victims. Canada has no diplomatic ties with Iran.

Cooperation

Iran's civil aviation organisation said in an initial report less than 24 hours after the incident that the three-year-old airliner, which had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday, encountered a technical problem after takeoff and was heading to a nearby airport before it crashed.

Investigations into airliner crashes require the cooperation of regulators, experts and companies across jurisdictions. They can take months and initial reports in 24 hours are rare.

Ukraine has outlined four potential scenarios, including a missile strike and terrorism. Kiev said its investigators wanted to search the crash site for possible debris of a Russian-made missile used by Iran's military.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it was making arrangements to tour the site after an Iranian invitation.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had designated a representative to join the probe.

Boeing said it would support the NTSB. The company is reeling from two deadly crashes of 737 MAX planes, including the one in Ethiopia, that led to the model's grounding last year.

The crash plane was built in 2016 and is the prior generation of the 737 before the MAX.

Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake.

Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake. Iran, which has denied the Boeing 737-800 was downed by a missile, said it could take one or two months to extract information from the voice and flight data recorders. It said it could ask Russia, Canada, France or Ukraine if it needed help. Tehran also said the probe might take one or two years. Also read: Intelligence evidence indicates Boeing airliner was shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile: Trudeau Ukraine said it could not rule out a missile strike but had not confirmed this. The Ukraine International Airlines flight to Kiev from Tehran crashed on Wednesday when Iran was on alert for a US military response hours after firing missiles at US targets in Iraq. The incident adds to international pressure on Iran, after months of tension with the United States and then tit-for-tat military strikes. Washington killed an Iranian general last week in a drone attack in Iraq, prompting Tehran's missile launches. On social media, many Iranians voiced anger at the authorities for not closing the airport after Iran's missile launches. Many passengers were Iranians with dual nationality. Also read: Iran says rumours missile caused plane crash make 'no sense' "We prefer to download black boxes in Iran. But if we see that we can't do that because the boxes are damaged, then we will seek help," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, told a news conference in Tehran. State television earlier showed the battered black boxes, saying their information could be downloaded and analysed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, citing intelligence from Canada and other sources, has blamed an Iranian missile for bringing down the plane that had 63 Canadians on board, although he said it "may well have been unintentional". "The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile," he said. Ukraine's general prosecutor asked Canada "to provide information available to the Canadian side that may facilitate criminal investigations" into the crash. Also read: Iran plane crash news: Iran formally invites US transport board to investigate Boeing airliner crash Error France’s BEA air accident agency said on it would be involved in the investigation into the Ukrainian crash. BEA helped analyse data from the flight recorder of a Boeing that crashed in Ethiopia last year. "It is important that as much clarity as possible is made and as quickly as possible," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. A US official, citing satellite data, said Washington had concluded with a high degree of certainty that anti-aircraft missiles brought down the plane in error. The official said the data showed the plane airborne for two minutes after departing Tehran when heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected. There was an explosion in the vicinity and heat data showed the plane on fire as it fell. US military satellites detect infrared emissions from heat. US President Donald Trump told reporters he believed "somebody could have made a mistake". A defence expert said the plane's radar signature would have been similar to a US military transport plane. The New York Times said it had obtained a video appearing to show an Iranian missile hitting a plane near Tehran airport. Iran denied the airliner had been hit by a missile, saying such reports were "psychological warfare against Iran." "All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. Iran's Foreign Ministry said that, after coordinating with Ottawa, a delegation of 10 Canadians were heading to Tehran to follow up on Canadian victims. Canada has no diplomatic ties with Iran. Cooperation Iran's civil aviation organisation said in an initial report less than 24 hours after the incident that the three-year-old airliner, which had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday, encountered a technical problem after takeoff and was heading to a nearby airport before it crashed. Investigations into airliner crashes require the cooperation of regulators, experts and companies across jurisdictions. They can take months and initial reports in 24 hours are rare. Ukraine has outlined four potential scenarios, including a missile strike and terrorism. Kiev said its investigators wanted to search the crash site for possible debris of a Russian-made missile used by Iran's military. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it was making arrangements to tour the site after an Iranian invitation. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had designated a representative to join the probe. Boeing said it would support the NTSB. The company is reeling from two deadly crashes of 737 MAX planes, including the one in Ethiopia, that led to the model's grounding last year. The crash plane was built in 2016 and is the prior generation of the 737 before the MAX.

'We prefer to download black boxes': Iran after plane crash blamed on missile

Amid row over the crash of Ukrainian plane in Tehran, Iran's civil aviation chief Ali Abedzadeh said on Friday he was "certain" that the aircraft was not hit by a missile.&nbsp;

"One thing is for certain, this airplane was not hit by a missile," Abedzadeh said in a press conference.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intelligence-evidence-indicates-boeing-airliner-was-shot-down-by-iranian-surface-to-air-missile-trudeau-273282">Intelligence evidence indicates Boeing airliner was shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile: Trudeau</a>

Iran's civil aviation chief's statements came after Britain and Canada claimed that intelligence sources suggested a catastrophic error by Iranian air defence batteries had crashed the aircraft.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-iran-shoot-down-the-ukrainian-jet-273279/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-rumours-missile-caused-plane-crash-make-no-sense-273278">Iran says rumours missile caused plane crash make 'no sense'</a>

Abedzadeh also said that "any remarks made before the data is extracted ... is not an expert opinion."

Earlier, a video was surfaced that showed the moment the airliner was hit.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-us-plane-crash-news-updates-iran-formally-invites-us-transport-board-to-investigate-boeing-airliner-crash-273301">Iran plane crash news: Iran formally invites US transport board to investigate Boeing airliner crash</a>

New York Times claimed that it has verified the footage, which shows a rapidly-moving object rising to an angle into the sky before a flash is noticed, which dims and continues moving forward. After several seconds, an explosion is heard.&nbsp;

"We have seen some videos. We confirm that the airplane was on fire for 60 to 70 seconds," Abedzadeh said.&nbsp;

But to say "that it was hit by something cannot be scientifically correct," the aviation chief added.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that probe from multiple agencies showed that the plane was crashed after it was shot down by an Iranian missile.

63 Canadians were amongst the 176 people that were killed in the crash.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also backed Trudeau's claims and said that the missile targetting the aircraft "may well have been unintentional."

The Ukranian airlines' Boeing 737 crashed after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, nearly at the same time when Iran claimed it fired two missiles on US airbases in Iraq.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Amid row over the crash of Ukrainian plane in Tehran, Iran's civil aviation chief Ali Abedzadeh said on Friday he was "certain" that the aircraft was not hit by a missile.

Amid row over the crash of Ukrainian plane in Tehran, Iran's civil aviation chief Ali Abedzadeh said on Friday he was "certain" that the aircraft was not hit by a missile. "One thing is for certain, this airplane was not hit by a missile," Abedzadeh said in a press conference. Also read: Intelligence evidence indicates Boeing airliner was shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missile: Trudeau Iran's civil aviation chief's statements came after Britain and Canada claimed that intelligence sources suggested a catastrophic error by Iranian air defence batteries had crashed the aircraft. Watch: Also read: Iran says rumours missile caused plane crash make 'no sense' Abedzadeh also said that "any remarks made before the data is extracted ... is not an expert opinion." Earlier, a video was surfaced that showed the moment the airliner was hit. Also read: Iran plane crash news: Iran formally invites US transport board to investigate Boeing airliner crash New York Times claimed that it has verified the footage, which shows a rapidly-moving object rising to an angle into the sky before a flash is noticed, which dims and continues moving forward. After several seconds, an explosion is heard. "We have seen some videos. We confirm that the airplane was on fire for 60 to 70 seconds," Abedzadeh said. But to say "that it was hit by something cannot be scientifically correct," the aviation chief added. On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that probe from multiple agencies showed that the plane was crashed after it was shot down by an Iranian missile. 63 Canadians were amongst the 176 people that were killed in the crash. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also backed Trudeau's claims and said that the missile targetting the aircraft "may well have been unintentional." The Ukranian airlines' Boeing 737 crashed after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, nearly at the same time when Iran claimed it fired two missiles on US airbases in Iraq. (with inputs from agencies)

Ukrainian aircraft was not hit by a missile: Iran's civil aviation chief

From losses in the stock market to a spike in oil markets. The US operation to kill an Iranian General could trigger fresh troubles from India. Palki Sharma tells you how tensions in West Asia could have a major impact on India. #Gravitas #WestAsiaCrisis #SoleimaniKilling

Gravitas: West Asia Crisis — How a conflict would hurt India?

The tensions in West Asia means bad news for the global economy and the business community. Many international airlines have been re-routed, oil prices have risen sharply and volatility grips the equity markets. This report looks at some key numbers. #US #Iran #Gravitas #GlobalEconomy

Gravitas: US-Iran conflict, Impact on global economy

Iran calls its missile strikes on U.S. military assets in Iraq 'a fierce revenge'. Two Iraqi bases were targetted. While the U.S. President Trump says 'All is Well', Iran's revolutionary guards hint at more strikes. Details in this report. #US #Iran #Gravitas #IranMissile #USMilitary

Gravitas: How Iran's missile strikes against US military assets in Iraq unfolded?

Almost a week after the US drone strike killed Iran's most powerful general, Soleimani, the war clouds seem to have receded for now in West Asia. Last night, US President Trump hinted at de-escalation of tensions with Iran. Is the crisis in West Asia truly over? @Palkisu explains. #Gravitas #India #US #Iran

Gravitas: Iran, US pull back from brink of war

The mystery around the Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) passenger jet crash in Iran continues. All 176 people on board have been killed in the crash and the investigations may well become one of the most complicated probes in aviation history. Details in this report. #Gravitas #UkrainianJet #Iran #US

Gravitas: Did Iran shoot down the Ukrainian jet?

Amidst the crisis in West Asia, the maritime stand-off in South China sea has largely been ignored in the media. In the last week, Indonesia gathered naval troops near Natuna islands & forced China to retreat after Chinese vessels intruded into Indonesia's naval boundaries. WION's Palki Sharma explains. #Gravitas #China #SouthChinaSea #Indonesia

Gravitas: Stand-off in South China sea: Indonesia's stern message to China

As far as the US-Iran conflict is concerned, India has managed a very difficult balancing act. India's ties with the U.S. and Iran are independent of each other. Will this crisis force India to take some tough decisions? This report explores. #Gravitas #US #Iran #India

Gravitas: US vs Iran, India's balancing act

US-Iran conflict is a tricky situation for India. India maintains strong ties with both the US and Iran. This presents India an opportunity to broker peace in West Asia.&nbsp;

Iran has welcomed any initiatives by India to de-escalate tensions.

This means two things for India:&nbsp; One, an opportunity to play a bigger role in West Asia. Two, the ability to protect its own interest.

On WION Edit, we will explore can India play peacemaker?

First, there are over 8 million Indian workers in West Asia. Peace in the region is the top priority for India.

Two, the Chabahar port which is strategically very important. India is the top player there. Iran has now confirmed that China wants a larger role in developing the port. India must not cede ground to China.

Three, the economic impact - rise in oil prices is a major risk for the Indian economy, especially now amid the slowdown.&nbsp;Rice and tea exports from India to Iran have also been hit.

Four, safeguarding strategic interests. India is an old player in West Asia and we have cultural, people to people ties. Now China is pushing aggressively, with its money.

Earlier, Beijing did not pick sides in this conflict. But now it has changed its tune, especially after the US sanctions.

China, Russia and Iran have faced the wrath of American sanctions. A few days ago, these three countries conducted joint navy exercises in the Gulf of Oman, as well as, Indian ocean.&nbsp;

India is the best poised to handle this crisis. India has a historic relationship with Iran and it also shares a strong equation with the US.

India has close, friendly ties with Russia, strategic ties with China, clout in Saudi Arabia and friends in Israel. If there's one neutral peace broker which can de-escalate this situation, it should be India. It's an opportunity that Delhi shouldn't pass.

India's initial reaction to the killing of Qasem Soleimani has been measured and mature. Iran's foreign minister Javed Zarif will visit India next week. This could be a chance to assess the situation from close-quarters.

Recently, the Indian Navy's warships and aircraft were deployed in the Gulf region. This was to secure India's sea-borne trade, reassure Indian merchants and plan response to an emergency

It's good that India is acting to protect its maritime interests, but prevention is always better than cure. India has to step up its role in West Asia.

If India plays an active role in playing the peacemaker in the US-Iran conflict, it will not only earn the goodwill of Iran and the US, but also establish India's prominence in the region.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

US-Iran conflict is a tricky situation for India. India maintains strong ties with both the US and Iran. This presents India an opportunity to broker peace in West Asia.

US-Iran conflict is a tricky situation for India. India maintains strong ties with both the US and Iran. This presents India an opportunity to broker peace in West Asia. Iran has welcomed any initiatives by India to de-escalate tensions. This means two things for India: One, an opportunity to play a bigger role in West Asia. Two, the ability to protect its own interest. On WION Edit, we will explore can India play peacemaker? First, there are over 8 million Indian workers in West Asia. Peace in the region is the top priority for India. Two, the Chabahar port which is strategically very important. India is the top player there. Iran has now confirmed that China wants a larger role in developing the port. India must not cede ground to China. Three, the economic impact - rise in oil prices is a major risk for the Indian economy, especially now amid the slowdown. Rice and tea exports from India to Iran have also been hit. Four, safeguarding strategic interests. India is an old player in West Asia and we have cultural, people to people ties. Now China is pushing aggressively, with its money. Earlier, Beijing did not pick sides in this conflict. But now it has changed its tune, especially after the US sanctions. China, Russia and Iran have faced the wrath of American sanctions. A few days ago, these three countries conducted joint navy exercises in the Gulf of Oman, as well as, Indian ocean. India is the best poised to handle this crisis. India has a historic relationship with Iran and it also shares a strong equation with the US. India has close, friendly ties with Russia, strategic ties with China, clout in Saudi Arabia and friends in Israel. If there's one neutral peace broker which can de-escalate this situation, it should be India. It's an opportunity that Delhi shouldn't pass. India's initial reaction to the killing of Qasem Soleimani has been measured and mature. Iran's foreign minister Javed Zarif will visit India next week. This could be a chance to assess the situation from close-quarters. Recently, the Indian Navy's warships and aircraft were deployed in the Gulf region. This was to secure India's sea-borne trade, reassure Indian merchants and plan response to an emergency It's good that India is acting to protect its maritime interests, but prevention is always better than cure. India has to step up its role in West Asia. If India plays an active role in playing the peacemaker in the US-Iran conflict, it will not only earn the goodwill of Iran and the US, but also establish India's prominence in the region. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: US-Iran crisis - can India play peacemaker?

As far as the US-Iran conflict is concerned, India has managed a very difficult balancing act. India's ties with the U.S. and Iran are independent of each other. Will this crisis force India to take some tough decisions? This report explores.

Amid West Asia conflict US wants India to cut ties with Iran

The World is One News, WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 10, 2020

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to approve a resolution aimed at restraining the President's ability to use military action against Iran without congressional approval, amid simmering tensions between the US and the country.

House votes to restrain Trump's Iran war powers

The crash, which occurred the same night that Iran launched missile attacks against Iraqi military bases that house U.S. troops, resulted in the death of all 176 people on board, including at least 63 Canadians.

Canada’s Justin Trudeau says evidence indicates Iranians shot down plane

American airstrikes last week killed Iranian Quds Force commander Major-Genral Qasim Soleimani and Iraq's&nbsp;militia commander&nbsp;Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which drove the entire region into a state of chaos.

Iran on Wednesday&nbsp;retaliated with missile strikes against American positions in Iraq. The Americans announced that there were no casualties after the attack on Al-Asad and Erbil. Here is what we know so far:

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>On January 7, 2020, slain Quds Force commander Qasim Soleimani's body reached his hometown of Kerman in southeastern Iran, where people in tears,&nbsp;clad in black gathered on the streets to pay their last respects to the fallen 'Hero'.&nbsp;Soleimani funeral <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-slain-general-soleimani-laid-to-rest-in-hometown-kerman-272814">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>On January 8, 2020, the General's body was finally buried after at least 35 people were killed in a stampede at the crowded gathering. Stampede at Soleimani's funeral <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qasem-soleimani-stampede-kills-35-at-funeral-for-iranian-general-killed-by-us-272728">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Ali Chegeni said on January 8, 2020, "India is a part of the region. It should be a part of de-escalation. We are welcoming any initiative from our good friends from India." Iran ambassador requests India <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reaches-out-to-countries-in-west-asia-amid-us-iran-tensions-272367">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

Watch:&nbsp;Iranian Ambassador to India: Expect India to play peacemaker

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iranian-ambassador-to-india-expect-india-to-play-peacemaker-273078/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<ul>
	<li>Two rockets crashed late Wednesday into the Iraqi capital's Green Zone, the high-security enclave where foreign embassies including that of the&nbsp;United States&nbsp;are based, said security sources. No casualties were reported <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-is-well-so-far-so-good-says-trump-after-irans-missile-strikes-at-us-bases-in-iraq-272818">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>The attack came nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases —&nbsp;Al-Asad and Erbil —&nbsp;housing American and other coalition forces, which did not cause casualties. The two strikes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/key-facts-about-al-asad-us-air-base-in-iraq-attacked-by-iran-272873">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>After conducting ballistic strikes on US bases, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, in a letter to the United Nations said his country has full respect for "the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq." Iran's letter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-respect-iraqs-sovereignty-says-irans-un-ambassador-after-ballistic-missile-strike-273064">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>President Donald Trump while addressing the nation from the White House, said there were no American or Iraqi casualties after Iran conducted the missile strikes on air&nbsp;bases housing American troops. Trump said Iran appeared to be standing down <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-iranian-strike-caused-no-american-deaths-273051">Read More</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/assassination-of-qasim-soleimani-what-we-know-so-far-272653">Assassination of Qasim Soleimani: What we know so far</a>

Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/qasem-soleimanis-burial-ceremony-underway-272827">Qasem Soleimani's burial ceremony underway</a>

&nbsp;

Watch: 3 Katyusha rockets hit Green Zone in Baghdad

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/3-katyusha-rockets-hit-green-zone-in-baghdad-273080/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

American airstrikes last week killed Iranian Quds Force commander Major-Genral Qasim Soleimani and Iraq's militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which drove the entire region into a state of chaos.

American airstrikes last week killed Iranian Quds Force commander Major-Genral Qasim Soleimani and Iraq's militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which drove the entire region into a state of chaos. Iran on Wednesday retaliated with missile strikes against American positions in Iraq. The Americans announced that there were no casualties after the attack on Al-Asad and Erbil. Here is what we know so far: On January 7, 2020, slain Quds Force commander Qasim Soleimani's body reached his hometown of Kerman in southeastern Iran, where people in tears, clad in black gathered on the streets to pay their last respects to the fallen 'Hero'. Soleimani funeral Read More On January 8, 2020, the General's body was finally buried after at least 35 people were killed in a stampede at the crowded gathering. Stampede at Soleimani's funeral Read More Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Ali Chegeni said on January 8, 2020, "India is a part of the region. It should be a part of de-escalation. We are welcoming any initiative from our good friends from India." Iran ambassador requests India Read More Watch: Iranian Ambassador to India: Expect India to play peacemaker × Two rockets crashed late Wednesday into the Iraqi capital's Green Zone, the high-security enclave where foreign embassies including that of the United States are based, said security sources. No casualties were reported Read More The attack came nearly 24 hours after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases — Al-Asad and Erbil — housing American and other coalition forces, which did not cause casualties. The two strikes Read More After conducting ballistic strikes on US bases, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, in a letter to the United Nations said his country has full respect for "the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq." Iran's letter Read More President Donald Trump while addressing the nation from the White House, said there were no American or Iraqi casualties after Iran conducted the missile strikes on air bases housing American troops. Trump said Iran appeared to be standing down Read More Read: Assassination of Qasim Soleimani: What we know so far Watch: Qasem Soleimani's burial ceremony underway Watch: 3 Katyusha rockets hit Green Zone in Baghdad ×

Iran missile attack news: Iran appears to be standing down, says Trump

Iran on Thursday ruled out a missile strike as the cause of a Ukrainian passenger plane crash near Tehran, saying such a scenario made "no sense".

The plane crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, shortly after Iran fired a volley of missiles against military bases in Iraq housing US personnel.

"Several internal and international flights were flying at the same time in Iranian airspace at the same altitude of 8,000 feet (2,440 metres)," Iran's transport ministry said.

"This story of a missile striking a plane cannot be correct at all," it said in a statement.

"Such rumours make no sense," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's civil aviation organisation and deputy transport minister, said in the statement.

Abedzadeh was reacting to rumours on social networks that the Boeing 737 was hit by a missile fired by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

He said Iran and Ukraine were in the process of "downloading information" from black boxes retrieved from the crash site.&nbsp;

"But if more specialised work is required to extract and analyse the data, we can do it in France or another country," he added.

On Wednesday, Iran's Mehr news agency -- close to ultraconservatives -- quoted Abedzadeh as saying Iran "would not give the black boxes to the Americans".

But the minister's statement on Thursday rejected "rumours of Iran's resistance to delivering the black boxes... to the US".&nbsp;

Iran is not obliged to have the black boxes analysed in the US, but America is one of only a few countries -- including France and Germany -- capable of carrying out such work.&nbsp;

Iranian authorities say initial indications showed the plane had turned back after suffering a problem.

A team of Ukrainian experts flew in and joined the investigation on the ground Thursday.

Kiev said it was studying several scenarios, including an in-flight collision, a rocket strike, an engine explosion caused by a technical problem, and an onboard blast.

Iran on Thursday ruled out a missile strike as the cause of a Ukrainian passenger plane crash near Tehran, saying such a scenario made "no sense". The plane crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, shortly after Iran fired a volley of missiles against military bases in Iraq housing US personnel.

Iran on Thursday ruled out a missile strike as the cause of a Ukrainian passenger plane crash near Tehran, saying such a scenario made "no sense". The plane crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, shortly after Iran fired a volley of missiles against military bases in Iraq housing US personnel. "Several internal and international flights were flying at the same time in Iranian airspace at the same altitude of 8,000 feet (2,440 metres)," Iran's transport ministry said. "This story of a missile striking a plane cannot be correct at all," it said in a statement. "Such rumours make no sense," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's civil aviation organisation and deputy transport minister, said in the statement. Abedzadeh was reacting to rumours on social networks that the Boeing 737 was hit by a missile fired by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. He said Iran and Ukraine were in the process of "downloading information" from black boxes retrieved from the crash site. "But if more specialised work is required to extract and analyse the data, we can do it in France or another country," he added. On Wednesday, Iran's Mehr news agency -- close to ultraconservatives -- quoted Abedzadeh as saying Iran "would not give the black boxes to the Americans". But the minister's statement on Thursday rejected "rumours of Iran's resistance to delivering the black boxes... to the US". Iran is not obliged to have the black boxes analysed in the US, but America is one of only a few countries -- including France and Germany -- capable of carrying out such work. Iranian authorities say initial indications showed the plane had turned back after suffering a problem. A team of Ukrainian experts flew in and joined the investigation on the ground Thursday. Kiev said it was studying several scenarios, including an in-flight collision, a rocket strike, an engine explosion caused by a technical problem, and an onboard blast.

Iran says rumours missile caused plane crash make 'no sense'

A three-day national funeral procession was held for the head of Iran's Quds Force commander&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-gather-to-pay-homage-to-slain-iran-general-soleimani-in-tehran-272439">Qasem Soleimani</a>, marked by hundreds of thousands of mourners who were seen carrying his casket with the slain general's posters&nbsp;across Iran and Iraq.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

<ul>
	<li>Soleimani was killed&nbsp;in an airstrike authorised by US President Donald Trump. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Iran appointed General Esmail Ghaani as the head of the elite Quds Force. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The killing escalated tensions between Iran-US relations. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Mourners marched chanting "Death of America" and "We will take our revenge" through the streets of Iran and Iraq. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>On January 5, President Trump raised the prospect targetting&nbsp;of 52 Iranian cultural sites. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>President&nbsp;Trump also threatened&nbsp;sanctions on Iraq after lawmakers called&nbsp;US troops to leave the country. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>France, Britain and Germany have called on&nbsp;Iran to refrain from violence. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Iranians and Iraqis detained and refused the re-entry of Americans. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Soleimani will be buried in his hometown on Tuesday. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>January 6 marked&nbsp;the second day of Soleimani's national funeral procession. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Read More: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/should-iran-strike-us-will-quickly-strike-back-says-trump-272374">Should Iran strike, US will quickly strike back, says Trump</a>

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-shabaab-militants-storm-military-base-in-somalia-kill-3-american-citizens-272394">Al Shabaab militants storm military base in Somalia; kill 3 American citizens</a>

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-media-challenges-vice-president-mike-pences-claims-of-soleimani-assisting-911-terrorists-272199">US media challenges Vice President Mike Pence's claims of Soleimani assisting 9/11 terrorists</a> 
&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Thousands pay respect to Qasem Soleimani

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-thousands-pay-respect-to-qasem-soleimani-272305/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

 
(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

A three-day national funeral procession was held for the head of Iran's Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, marked by hundreds of thousands of mourners who were seen carrying his casket with the slain general's posters across Iran and Iraq.

A three-day national funeral procession was held for the head of Iran's Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, marked by hundreds of thousands of mourners who were seen carrying his casket with the slain general's posters across Iran and Iraq. Soleimani was killed in an airstrike authorised by US President Donald Trump. Iran appointed General Esmail Ghaani as the head of the elite Quds Force. The killing escalated tensions between Iran-US relations. Mourners marched chanting "Death of America" and "We will take our revenge" through the streets of Iran and Iraq. On January 5, President Trump raised the prospect targetting of 52 Iranian cultural sites. President Trump also threatened sanctions on Iraq after lawmakers called US troops to leave the country. France, Britain and Germany have called on Iran to refrain from violence. Iranians and Iraqis detained and refused the re-entry of Americans. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown on Tuesday. January 6 marked the second day of Soleimani's national funeral procession. Read More: Should Iran strike, US will quickly strike back, says Trump Read More: Al Shabaab militants storm military base in Somalia; kill 3 American citizens Read More: US media challenges Vice President Mike Pence's claims of Soleimani assisting 9/11 terrorists Watch: Thousands pay respect to Qasem Soleimani × (With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

Latest updates on Iran general Qasem Soleimani's killing

In first fatal incident for Ukraine airline, plane crashes in Iran

US-Iran conflict is a tricky situation for India. India maintains strong ties with both the US & Iran. This presents India an opportunity to broker peace in West Asia. Can & Will India play peacemaker? On Wion Edit Palki Sharma explores. #Gravitas #India #US #Iran

Wion Edit: US-Iran conflict: Can India play peacemaker?

New Iran sanctions are already in effect, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday in a televised address from the White House.

"It's already been done. We've increased them. They were very severe, but now it's increased substantially," Trump said, without offering any specifics.

Trump on Wednesday announced new sanctions after Iran fired ballistic missiles on US airbase in Iraq targeting Al-Asad and Irbil.

Trump has also said that these missile attacks had not harmed any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff.

He termed these sanctions as 'punishing economic sanctions' against the Iran government.

Meanwhile, on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-plane-crash-investigators-consider-several-leads-including-missile-strike-technical-malfunction-act-of-terror-273238">Ukraine airline crash in Tehran</a>, Trump said he has his "suspicions over Iran".

"I have my suspicions," Trump.&nbsp;"It was flying in a pretty rough neighbourhood and somebody could have made a mistake."

"Some people say it was mechanical. I personally don't think that's even a question," Trump said, adding that "something very terrible happened."

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crashed-boeing-underwent-maintenance-checks-2-days-before-accident-ukraine-airline-273006">Ukraine International Airlines&nbsp;</a>(UIA) Boeing went down outside Tehran shortly after take-off on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

The crash, which killed mainly Iranians and Canadians, came shortly after Tehran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops to avenge the US killing of a top Iranian general last week.

Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani was killed after US strike&nbsp;Baghdad International Airport, marking a dramatic escalation in the shadow war of Iran and US.

Following the strike, Trump addressed the nation from the White House and&nbsp;said that these missile attacks did not harm any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he showed as Tehran wanting&nbsp;to de-escalate the&nbsp;standoff.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

New Iran sanctions are already in effect, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday in a televised address from the White House. "It's already been done. We've increased them.

New Iran sanctions are already in effect, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday in a televised address from the White House. "It's already been done. We've increased them. They were very severe, but now it's increased substantially," Trump said, without offering any specifics. Trump on Wednesday announced new sanctions after Iran fired ballistic missiles on US airbase in Iraq targeting Al-Asad and Irbil. Trump has also said that these missile attacks had not harmed any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff. He termed these sanctions as 'punishing economic sanctions' against the Iran government. Meanwhile, on Ukraine airline crash in Tehran, Trump said he has his "suspicions over Iran". "I have my suspicions," Trump. "It was flying in a pretty rough neighbourhood and somebody could have made a mistake." "Some people say it was mechanical. I personally don't think that's even a question," Trump said, adding that "something very terrible happened." The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing went down outside Tehran shortly after take-off on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. The crash, which killed mainly Iranians and Canadians, came shortly after Tehran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops to avenge the US killing of a top Iranian general last week. Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani was killed after US strike Baghdad International Airport, marking a dramatic escalation in the shadow war of Iran and US. Following the strike, Trump addressed the nation from the White House and said that these missile attacks did not harm any US troops and the damage was minimal, an outcome he showed as Tehran wanting to de-escalate the standoff. (With inputs from agencies)

New Iran sanctions are already in effect, says US President Donald Trump

The Boeing commercial flight carried 176 people when it crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran's main airport. The crash of Ukraine International Airlines came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing US soldiers, but both Ukrainian and Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue that brought down the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. There is no clarity on what led to the crash. Amid the tensions with the United States Iran has now refused to hand over the plane black box to the aircraft manufacturer. #PlaneCrash #IranPlaneCrash #FinePrint #US #Iran #Boeing

Fineprint: Iran plane crash, What do we know about the crash

Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Ali Chegeni said on Wednesday, "India is a part of the region. It should be a part of de-escalation. We are welcoming any initiative from our good friends from India." #WION #Iran #India

Iranian Ambassador to India: Expect India to play peacemaker

US President Donald Trump's speech on January 8 following the attack on US forces was not what the world expected. Many thought that his speech was incoherent. The speech included a call for de-escalation, potshop at Obama and a re-election speech. #DonaldTrump #US #TrumpSpeech #Iran #SoleimaniKilling

WION Dispatch: Trump's Iran speech another rant against Soleimani, many call it incoherent

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management.

That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard.

Hobbled by harsh US economic sanctions and a weak military hand, Iran has perfected the art of asymmetric warfare and carefully calibrated operations, as well as, acts of political violence, an approach that the United States has yet to come to grips with.

Iran’s firing of missiles at two US bases in Iraq in its initial military response to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani deftly served multiple purposes while leaving the door open to de-escalation.

The Iranian missiles targetting the bases, part of what Iran dubbed Operation Harsh Revenge, were launched as millions crowded the streets of the city of Kerman for the funeral of Soleimani, the third day of a mass outpouring of mourning, public anger and calls for revenge.

Using guided precision missiles, Iran was careful to demonstrate its capability while not causing the further US and Iraqi casualties that almost certainly would have provoked a harsh US response.

Driving the point home, Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" of the United States.

Khamenei went on to say that Iran’s real revenge would be the expulsion of US forces from the Middle East.&nbsp;

"Military actions in this form are not sufficient for that issue. What is important is that America's corrupt presence must come to an end in this region," he said.

In a televised address, Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several members of the military top brass. appeared to respond positively to the Iranian overture, cloaking it as Iran “standing down.”

Amid the bluster justifying the killing of Soleimani, promises to impose additional sanctions against Iran, vows that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and extolling American military and economic might, President Trump insisted that “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”

He noted that the US and Iran had a common interest in fighting the Islamic State, one reason why Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran and went on to say that “We should work together on this and other shared priorities.”

Determined not to get embroiled in another Middle East war, Trump’s acknowledgement of the Iranian gesture hardly comes as a surprise.

Trump has in the past nine months exercised in military terms the kind of strategic patience that Iran adopted in the first 18 months after the United States withdrew in 2018 from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and imposed its economic sanctions.

Iran in May/June of last year switched its posture to one of calibrated escalation after Europe, Russia and China proved unwilling and/or incapable of salvaging the nuclear accord in a way that Iran would be at least partially compensated for the severe impact of the sanctions.

Trump refrained from responding militarily to numerous attacks, including last year’s Iranian downing of a US drone, attacks on tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and two key Saudi oil facilities.

Those attacks were the ones that caught the most international attention, but were, according to US officials, only the tip of the iceberg.

The officials said there had been some 90 attacks on US targets in Iraq since May 2019 carried out by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including Kataeb Hezbollah, whose leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed alongside Soleimani.

The attacks were intended not only to force the US to escalate tensions by provoking a military response in the hope that it would lead to a return to the negotiating table but also an environment conducive to a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq at the behest of the Iraqi government and/or public pressure.

“The nearly eight months in which the United States did not respond forcefully to a series of military provocations and attacks almost certainly contributed to the increasingly assertive and audacious actions by Iran and its proxies,” said Michael Eisenstadt, an expert on the military and strategy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP).

Trump’s apparent, so far disproven, belief that bluster and intimidation will force his adversaries coupled with television images of the besieged US embassy in Baghdad is likely what persuaded him to respond disproportionately to the killing of a US contractor by assassinating Soleimani.

Iran hopes that the scare of an escalating tit-for-tat that gets out of control will energise efforts to bring the United States and the Islamic Republic back to the negotiating table.

To do so, the third party with leverage on both sides of the divide like Oman would have to bridge a gap on the terms of reviving negotiations aimed at reinstituting the nuclear accord that has been widened by Soleimani’s killing.

Revival of the agreement would have to involve revised terms that include Iran’s controversial ballistic missiles programme and support for proxies across the Middle East, the core of its defence strategy.

Dialling down tension at best buys the United States and Iran time. It does not solve anything.

Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, insisted this week that the Trump administration’s goal was to “contain and confront” Iran.

Iran retains a vested interest in strategic escalation. It may hope that the current crisis is the monkey wrench that breaks the logjam but will seek to again push things to the brink if it is disappointed.

Said The Washington Post in an editorial prior to Trump’s latest remarks: “The way to avoid these outcomes is to work with allies and other intermediaries to offer Iran a diplomatic solution before the slide toward war becomes irreversible. In short, what’s needed is Pompeo’s ‘de-escalation,’ not Trump’s reckless threats.”

Trump has proven that he can go either way. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management. That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard.

Iranians play chess, Americans play backgammon when it comes to warfare, military strategy and conflict management. That is becoming increasingly obvious in the US-Iranian tit-for-tat on an Iraqi gameboard. Hobbled by harsh US economic sanctions and a weak military hand, Iran has perfected the art of asymmetric warfare and carefully calibrated operations, as well as, acts of political violence, an approach that the United States has yet to come to grips with. Iran’s firing of missiles at two US bases in Iraq in its initial military response to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani deftly served multiple purposes while leaving the door open to de-escalation. The Iranian missiles targetting the bases, part of what Iran dubbed Operation Harsh Revenge, were launched as millions crowded the streets of the city of Kerman for the funeral of Soleimani, the third day of a mass outpouring of mourning, public anger and calls for revenge. Using guided precision missiles, Iran was careful to demonstrate its capability while not causing the further US and Iraqi casualties that almost certainly would have provoked a harsh US response. Driving the point home, Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" of the United States. Khamenei went on to say that Iran’s real revenge would be the expulsion of US forces from the Middle East. "Military actions in this form are not sufficient for that issue. What is important is that America's corrupt presence must come to an end in this region," he said. In a televised address, Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several members of the military top brass. appeared to respond positively to the Iranian overture, cloaking it as Iran “standing down.” Amid the bluster justifying the killing of Soleimani, promises to impose additional sanctions against Iran, vows that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and extolling American military and economic might, President Trump insisted that “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.” He noted that the US and Iran had a common interest in fighting the Islamic State, one reason why Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran and went on to say that “We should work together on this and other shared priorities.” Determined not to get embroiled in another Middle East war, Trump’s acknowledgement of the Iranian gesture hardly comes as a surprise. Trump has in the past nine months exercised in military terms the kind of strategic patience that Iran adopted in the first 18 months after the United States withdrew in 2018 from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and imposed its economic sanctions. Iran in May/June of last year switched its posture to one of calibrated escalation after Europe, Russia and China proved unwilling and/or incapable of salvaging the nuclear accord in a way that Iran would be at least partially compensated for the severe impact of the sanctions. Trump refrained from responding militarily to numerous attacks, including last year’s Iranian downing of a US drone, attacks on tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and two key Saudi oil facilities. Those attacks were the ones that caught the most international attention, but were, according to US officials, only the tip of the iceberg. The officials said there had been some 90 attacks on US targets in Iraq since May 2019 carried out by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, including Kataeb Hezbollah, whose leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed alongside Soleimani. The attacks were intended not only to force the US to escalate tensions by provoking a military response in the hope that it would lead to a return to the negotiating table but also an environment conducive to a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq at the behest of the Iraqi government and/or public pressure. “The nearly eight months in which the United States did not respond forcefully to a series of military provocations and attacks almost certainly contributed to the increasingly assertive and audacious actions by Iran and its proxies,” said Michael Eisenstadt, an expert on the military and strategy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). Trump’s apparent, so far disproven, belief that bluster and intimidation will force his adversaries coupled with television images of the besieged US embassy in Baghdad is likely what persuaded him to respond disproportionately to the killing of a US contractor by assassinating Soleimani. Iran hopes that the scare of an escalating tit-for-tat that gets out of control will energise efforts to bring the United States and the Islamic Republic back to the negotiating table. To do so, the third party with leverage on both sides of the divide like Oman would have to bridge a gap on the terms of reviving negotiations aimed at reinstituting the nuclear accord that has been widened by Soleimani’s killing. Revival of the agreement would have to involve revised terms that include Iran’s controversial ballistic missiles programme and support for proxies across the Middle East, the core of its defence strategy. Dialling down tension at best buys the United States and Iran time. It does not solve anything. Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, insisted this week that the Trump administration’s goal was to “contain and confront” Iran. Iran retains a vested interest in strategic escalation. It may hope that the current crisis is the monkey wrench that breaks the logjam but will seek to again push things to the brink if it is disappointed. Said The Washington Post in an editorial prior to Trump’s latest remarks: “The way to avoid these outcomes is to work with allies and other intermediaries to offer Iran a diplomatic solution before the slide toward war becomes irreversible. In short, what’s needed is Pompeo’s ‘de-escalation,’ not Trump’s reckless threats.” Trump has proven that he can go either way. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why did Iran and US step back from all-out war

Many are calling Trump's speech on Iran incoherent that there is no clear message in it. WION has identified three things that were missing from Trump's speech. Watch report to know more: #Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpSpeech #WION #US #IRAN

Three things missing from Trump's speech on Iran

iran

Iran, News on Iran, stories on Iran, articles on Iran, Iran stories at Wion, Iran news, Iran latest news