Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said over Twitter an internal investigation concluded missiles fired “due to human error” caused the crash.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake,” he said.
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
Protests have erupted in Tehran, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of senior leaders over the mistake.
It comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian and allied intelligence believed the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile.
WATCH NOW: “The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface- to-air missile”: Prime Minister Trudeau says on Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport Wednesday https://t.co/9Xc8iUcryp pic.twitter.com/PsO1Hmzi99
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 9, 2020
“We have intelligence from multiple sources, including our allies and our own intelligence. The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile,” Trudeau said.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed they had received the same intelligence, after US officials had also said they were “confident” the jet had been brought down by Iranian air defences.
The confirmation comes despite the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, Ali Abedzadeh, previously telling Iranian media the reports were “illogical rumours”.
He told CNN the pilot had tried to return to the airport after taking off “but failed”.
Iranian officials initially blamed “technical issues” before then saying the crash was most likely caused by an engine fire.
All 176 passengers on board were killed when the plane crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran.
Among those killed were 63 Canadians.
