Iran ends co-operation over downed plane with Ukraine February 3, 2020 - 17:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran has ceased co-operation with Ukraine in its investigation into the downing of Ukrainian passenger jet PS752 by Iranian missiles on 8 January, the BBC reports. It comes after Ukrainian TV aired a leaked exchange between an Iranian pilot and air traffic control, apparently recorded at the time. The pilot allegedly states he saw a flash in the sky, similar to missile fire, and then an explosion. Iran initially denied responsibility for the downing, which killed 176. At the time Iran was on high alert, having fired ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad. "We will no longer provide any documents to the Ukrainians," the head of the Iranian investigation team Hassan Rezaeifar told the Iranian news agency Mehr on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the new evidence proved that Iran knew from the very first moments that the Ukraine International Airlines flight was brought down by a missile. The recording is of a conversation between an Iranian pilot who was landing shortly after the doomed Ukrainian passenger jet took off, and the control tower in Tehran. In an audio clip published by a Ukrainian YouTube channel, the Aseman Airlines pilot says he is seeing lights in the sky ahead that look like they're from a missile. A male officer in the control tower is then heard trying to contact the Ukrainian plane several times, without success. After a few minutes, the Iranian pilot tells the control tower he has just seen a "big light from an explosion".   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24  U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says.Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |
