On Monday, in response to allegations that Iran lied or tried to cover up the truth about the crash of a Ukrainian airliner, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said he initially denied that the plane was shot down by Iran because it was unwitting, or "better said to have been maintained without knowing."
He also denied reports that Qatar had provided Iran with $3 billion in compensation for the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in order to "repay the favor."
Pictured from irna
According to the Islamic Republic news agency (IRNA) reported on January 13, rabbi said, "My statement Thursday night was a response to psychological warfare in the United States based on information obtained by the government at the time." Before Friday night, no government official, including the president, knew the original cause of the plane crash. ”
He apologized to the public and journalists for an official statement denying the facts, and revealed that President Rouhani was following up on various matters related to the plane crash, including the legal and personal issues of the victims, on which he would soon speak publicly.
Meanwhile, the spokesman denied reports that Qatar provided Iran with $3 billion to pay compensation for the crash.
Middle East Online quoted sources on January 12 as saying that the Emir of Qatar (head of state) visited the Iranian capital Tehran on the same day and would provide Iranian President Rouhani with $3 billion to compensate the families of 176 passengers who were killed. The report also said that the Iranian president quoted the Head of State of Qatar as saying in a statement that "Qatar will not forget Iran's position on the doha sanctions issue", referring to Iran's past support.
Screenshot of the Middle East Online report
On the evening of January 12, Iran's supreme leader held talks with the emir of Qatar pictured from IRNA
In addition, after admitting to accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people, large-scale protests broke out in Iranian universities on the 11th, and demonstrators shouted slogans such as "Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei stepped down" and "Shame for the Revolutionary Guards" on the campus.
Britain's ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, was briefly detained by the Iranian government on suspicion of fomenting protests inside amir Kabil University of Technology. British Foreign Secretary Raab immediately issued a statement accusing Iran of "violating international norms".
US President Trump also tweeted in Persian, shouting directly to the demonstrators on the streets of Iran and the Iranian government, saying "I am with you" and "Do not kill your demonstrators.".
British Ambassador to Iran Photo from the Tehran Times
On the 13th, rabbi called Trump's Persian tweet "crocodile tears" and condemned the US sanctions, pointing out that "it is this person who threatened to attack 52 Iranian cultural sites after assassinating General Soleimani." ”
He denied that he would have any negotiations with the United States under pressure, stressing that direct negotiations would not be possible because the United States was unreliable: "If we move, Trump thinks he can push us to another stage by putting more pressure on the lives of Iranians." When we are pressured, the negotiations will go off topic. ”
Referring to the temporary detention of the British ambassador to Iran, rabbi stressed that Makaire's participation in the unlawful assembly was inconsistent with his ambassador's duties and that "[this] is completely unprofessional and unacceptable." ”
This article is an exclusive manuscript of the Observer Network and may not be reproduced without authorization.