How Iran protested after Islamic Republic admitted it downed Ukrainian aircraft

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<p>US President Donald Trump on Sunday told the Iranian authorities not to kill the protesters in an apparent reference to people protesting against the military after it admitted that it had mistakenly shot down the Ukrainian airliner.</p>

<p>All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed.</p>

<p>''To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranians-step-up-protests-after-tehran-govt-admits-ukrainian-plane-strike-273779">imprisoned by you</a>, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching,'' Trump tweeted.</p>

<p>''Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!'' he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216356280933273600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Protesters piled pressure on Iran's leadership on Sunday with demands for top authorities to quit after the Iranian military admitted it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner at a time when it had feared US strikes.</p>

<p>"They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here," dozens of protesters outside a university in Tehran chanted, according to video clips posted on Twitter. Scores of demonstrators were also shown gathered in other cities.</p>

<p>The social media posts could not be verified by Reuters. But state-affiliated media had reported protests on Saturday shortly after the Iranian military apologised for mistakenly bringing down the Ukrainian plane on Wednesday, killing all 176 aboard.</p>


US President Donald Trump on Sunday told the Iranian authorities not to kill the protesters in an apparent reference to people protesting against the military after it admitted that it had mistakenly shot down the Ukrainian airliner.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday told the Iranian authorities not to kill the protesters in an apparent reference to people protesting against the military after it admitted that it had mistakenly shot down the Ukrainian airliner. All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed. ''To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching,'' Trump tweeted. ''Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!'' he added. To the leaders of Iran - DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020 × Protesters piled pressure on Iran's leadership on Sunday with demands for top authorities to quit after the Iranian military admitted it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner at a time when it had feared US strikes. "They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here," dozens of protesters outside a university in Tehran chanted, according to video clips posted on Twitter. Scores of demonstrators were also shown gathered in other cities. The social media posts could not be verified by Reuters. But state-affiliated media had reported protests on Saturday shortly after the Iranian military apologised for mistakenly bringing down the Ukrainian plane on Wednesday, killing all 176 aboard.

'Do not kill your protesters, world is watching', Trump warns Iran

<p>Iranian protesters and newspapers&nbsp;piled&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-to-visit-iran-saudi-arabia-to-discuss-developments-in-middle-east-273726">Tehran</a> on Sunday&nbsp;after&nbsp;Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Ukrainian airliner</a>.</p>

<p>Riot police fired teargas at thousands of&nbsp;Iranians who had taken to the streets late on Saturday in the capital and other cities, many chanting "Death to the dictator", directing their anger at&nbsp;Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Ali Khamenei</a>.</p>

<p>Reports of the&nbsp;protests&nbsp;were carried by state-affiliated news agencies, while video clips circulated on social media.</p>

<p>Tehran residents told reporters&nbsp;that police had stepped up their presence in the capital on Sunday morning.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Protesters condemn government over its initial denial of downing Ukrainian plane</strong></p>

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<p>"Apologise and resign,"&nbsp;Iran's moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the "people's demand" was for those responsible for mishandling the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crisis to quit.</p>

<p>All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them&nbsp;Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed.</p>

<p>Protests&nbsp;erupted&nbsp;after&nbsp;Saturday's&nbsp;admission&nbsp;that the military accidentally shot down the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-demands-punishment-compensation-for-airliner-downed-by-iran-273583">Ukraine International Airlines</a>&nbsp;plane&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;after&nbsp;takeoff on Wednesday when&nbsp;Iranian forces were alert for US&nbsp;reprisals&nbsp;after&nbsp;tit-for-tat&nbsp;strikes.</p>

<p>For days,&nbsp;Iranian officials had vigorously denied it was to blame, even as Canada, which had 57 citizens on the flight, and the United States said their intelligence indicated an&nbsp;Iranian missile was to blame, albeit probably fired in error.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.<br />
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My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. <a href="https://t.co/4dkePxupzm">https://t.co/4dkePxupzm</a></p>
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) <a href="https://twitter.com/HassanRouhani/status/1215856679423823872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake" and apologised. But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public anger about the delayed&nbsp;admission when he said he had told the authorities a missile hit the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;the day it crashed.</p>

<p>Another moderate daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami, or the Islamic Republic, wrote in an editorial: "Those who delayed publishing the reason behind the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crash and damaged people's trust in the establishment should be dismissed or should resign."</p>

<p>Criticism of the authorities in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;is not unusual, but it tends to stay in narrow boundaries.</p>

<p>The press attacks and&nbsp;protests&nbsp;add to challenges facing the establishment, which in November faced the country's bloodiest unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution.</p>

<p>As Saturday's&nbsp;protests&nbsp;spread across&nbsp;Iran, including major cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh, US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Donald Trump</a> said on Twitter: "We are following your&nbsp;protests&nbsp;closely, and are inspired by your courage."</p>

<p>"There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he said, posting his tweets in both Farsi and English.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching.</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216120362230067202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Britain said its ambassador in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had been briefly detained on Saturday by the authorities in Tehran. A news agency said he was detained outside a university for inciting&nbsp;protests.</p>

<p>Condemning the arrest, British Foreign Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-denounces-brief-arrest-of-envoy-in-tehran-as-violation-of-law-273690">Dominic Raab</a> said&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;"can continue its march towards pariah status&nbsp;or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Foreign Secretary <a href="https://twitter.com/DominicRaab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DominicRaab</a> calls brief detention of <a href="https://twitter.com/HMATehran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HMATehran</a> a “flagrant violation of international law.” Full statement: <a href="https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb">https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb</a></p>
— Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/foreignoffice/status/1216114167888912385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Protests&nbsp;inside&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;followed a build-up of tension between&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and the United States, which withdrew from Tehran's nuclear pact with world powers in 2018 and then re-imposed sanctions that have steadily crippled the&nbsp;Iranian economy.</p>

<p>On January&nbsp;3, a US&nbsp;drone&nbsp;strike&nbsp;in Iraq killed prominent&nbsp;Iranian commander <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-general-soleimanis-killing-was-self-defense-us-ambassador-kelly-craft-to-un-273117">Qasem Soleimani</a>, responsible for building up&nbsp;Iran's network of regional proxy armies in Iraq and beyond, and Tehran responded with missile&nbsp;strikes on US&nbsp;targets in Iraq.</p>

<p>No US&nbsp;soldiers were killed, but in the tense hours&nbsp;after&nbsp;that, the Ukrainian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Boeing 737</a> was cleared to take off from Tehran airport and then brought down by a missile fired in error by an operator who mistook the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;for an attacker.</p>

<p><img alt="Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93f67be6-2401-4cdf-a0e8-7eef59ffee84" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_8.jpg" /><br />
[ <em>Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine&nbsp;(Courtesy: Reuters)</em> ]</p>

<p>"Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;must take full responsibility," Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ottawa-lowers-canadian-death-toll-in-iran-air-crash-to-57-273604">Justin Trudeau</a> said.</p>

<p>Trudeau said&nbsp;Iranian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Hassan Rouhani</a> had committed to collaborating with Canadian investigators, working to de-escalate tensions in the region and continuing dialogue.</p>

<p>Rallying to the establishment,&nbsp;Iranian lawmakers praised the elite force's commanders for courage in admitting the error, according to Fars, a news agency seen as close to the Guards, a parallel military set up to protect the theocratic system.</p>

<p>Iranian officials sought to portray the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;disaster as a second blow to a mourning nation&nbsp;after&nbsp;Soleimani's death in a US&nbsp;drone&nbsp;strike.</p>

<p>Soleimani's funeral had prompted huge public gatherings, which the authorities described a show of national unity. But the displays of emotion have been swiftly overshadowed and protesters on Saturday tore up pictures of the slain general.</p>

<p>Public fury at&nbsp;Iran's authorities had grown as questions about the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crash mounted.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-warns-iran-nuclear-deal-may-collapse-273585">Iranians</a> on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;was allowed to take off at a time of high tension.</p>


Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in Tehran on Sunday after Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner.

Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in Tehran on Sunday after Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner. Riot police fired teargas at thousands of Iranians who had taken to the streets late on Saturday in the capital and other cities, many chanting "Death to the dictator", directing their anger at Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Reports of the protests were carried by state-affiliated news agencies, while video clips circulated on social media. Tehran residents told reporters that police had stepped up their presence in the capital on Sunday morning. Watch: Protesters condemn government over its initial denial of downing Ukrainian plane × "Apologise and resign," Iran's moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the "people's demand" was for those responsible for mishandling the plane crisis to quit. All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed. Protests erupted after Saturday's admission that the military accidentally shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane minutes after takeoff on Wednesday when Iranian forces were alert for US reprisals after tit-for-tat strikes. For days, Iranian officials had vigorously denied it was to blame, even as Canada, which had 57 citizens on the flight, and the United States said their intelligence indicated an Iranian missile was to blame, albeit probably fired in error. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm — Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 × Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake" and apologised. But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public anger about the delayed admission when he said he had told the authorities a missile hit the plane the day it crashed. Another moderate daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami, or the Islamic Republic, wrote in an editorial: "Those who delayed publishing the reason behind the plane crash and damaged people's trust in the establishment should be dismissed or should resign." Criticism of the authorities in Iran is not unusual, but it tends to stay in narrow boundaries. The press attacks and protests add to challenges facing the establishment, which in November faced the country's bloodiest unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. As Saturday's protests spread across Iran, including major cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter: "We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage." "There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he said, posting his tweets in both Farsi and English. The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 × Britain said its ambassador in Iran had been briefly detained on Saturday by the authorities in Tehran. A news agency said he was detained outside a university for inciting protests. Condemning the arrest, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Iran "can continue its march towards pariah status or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards." Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab calls brief detention of @HMATehran a “flagrant violation of international law.” Full statement: https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb — Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) January 11, 2020 × Protests inside Iran followed a build-up of tension between Iran and the United States, which withdrew from Tehran's nuclear pact with world powers in 2018 and then re-imposed sanctions that have steadily crippled the Iranian economy. On January 3, a US drone strike in Iraq killed prominent Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, responsible for building up Iran's network of regional proxy armies in Iraq and beyond, and Tehran responded with missile strikes on US targets in Iraq. No US soldiers were killed, but in the tense hours after that, the Ukrainian Boeing 737 was cleared to take off from Tehran airport and then brought down by a missile fired in error by an operator who mistook the plane for an attacker. [ Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific. Iran must take full responsibility," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Trudeau said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had committed to collaborating with Canadian investigators, working to de-escalate tensions in the region and continuing dialogue. Rallying to the establishment, Iranian lawmakers praised the elite force's commanders for courage in admitting the error, according to Fars, a news agency seen as close to the Guards, a parallel military set up to protect the theocratic system. Iranian officials sought to portray the plane disaster as a second blow to a mourning nation after Soleimani's death in a US drone strike. Soleimani's funeral had prompted huge public gatherings, which the authorities described a show of national unity. But the displays of emotion have been swiftly overshadowed and protesters on Saturday tore up pictures of the slain general. Public fury at Iran's authorities had grown as questions about the plane crash mounted. Iranians on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the plane was allowed to take off at a time of high tension.

Iranians step up protests after Tehran's admission that it shot down Ukrainian airliner

<p>Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ottawa-lowers-canadian-death-toll-in-iran-air-crash-to-57-273604">Justin&nbsp;Trudeau</a>, responding to Iran's statement that a missile shot down a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Ukrainian airliner</a> this week, said on Saturday that his government sought a&nbsp;full&nbsp;investigation&nbsp;and&nbsp;full&nbsp;cooperation from the&nbsp;Iranian authorities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: PM Justin Trudeau: Closure, accountability needed</strong></p>

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<p>All 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians, were killed in Wednesday's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-under-pressure-at-home-over-plane-crash-warns-iran-world-is-watching-273502">crash</a>&nbsp;after take-off from Tehran. Canada had said for several days it believed the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;was downed by an Iranian missile, but until Saturday Iran had denied this.</p>

<p>In a statement issued by his office,&nbsp;Trudeau&nbsp;said that Iran had now acknowledged that the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;was brought down by its own armed forces.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides Canadians with an update about the fatal plane crash in Iran. <a href="https://t.co/Rrcfdv3jSp">pic.twitter.com/Rrcfdv3jSp</a></p>
— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianPM/status/1215461096229916675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Our focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the&nbsp;families and loved ones of the&nbsp;victims. This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together,"&nbsp;he&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>"We will continue working with our partners around the&nbsp;world to ensure a complete and thorough&nbsp;investigation, and the&nbsp;Canadian government expects&nbsp;full&nbsp;cooperation from Iranian authorities.”</p>


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responding to Iran's statement that a missile shot down a Ukrainian airliner this week, said on Saturday that his government sought a full investigation and full cooperation from the Iranian authorities.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responding to Iran's statement that a missile shot down a Ukrainian airliner this week, said on Saturday that his government sought a full investigation and full cooperation from the Iranian authorities. Watch: PM Justin Trudeau: Closure, accountability needed × All 176 people on board, including 57 Canadians, were killed in Wednesday's crash after take-off from Tehran. Canada had said for several days it believed the plane was downed by an Iranian missile, but until Saturday Iran had denied this. In a statement issued by his office, Trudeau said that Iran had now acknowledged that the plane was brought down by its own armed forces. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides Canadians with an update about the fatal plane crash in Iran. pic.twitter.com/Rrcfdv3jSp — CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) January 10, 2020 × "Our focus remains closure, accountability, transparency, and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims. This is a national tragedy, and all Canadians are mourning together," he said. "We will continue working with our partners around the world to ensure a complete and thorough investigation, and the Canadian government expects full cooperation from Iranian authorities.”

Canada: PM Justin Trudeau wants 'full investigation' into plane crash

Was the Ukrainian Airliner shot down accidentally by Iranian missile? Meanwhile, a video surfaced on social media where airliner seen being hit by a projectile. #AmericaIranCrisis #WIONNews #IranPlaneCrash

Was Ukrainian Airliner shot down? Video Surfaced with Moment of Impact.