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US-Iran tensions
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Tehran is digging a deeper hole for itself

  • The accidental downing of a Ukrainian commercial flight is only the latest in a long line of misjudgments made by Tehran and other stakeholders that threaten global security
  • Some way has to be found to get all sides together and initiate discussion of reviving the agreement for dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat

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A protester holds a picture of a victim of the Ukrainian Boeing 737 crash as demonstrations broke out after Iran admitted shooting down the passenger jet by mistake, killing all on board. Photo: AFP
SCMP Editorial
What a difference a week has made to domestic public feeling about the Iranian regime. When millions came together to pay tribute to military chief Qassem Soleimani after his assassination in a drone strike on January 3, politicians interpreted it as a show of support for the government and its controversial policies in the face of United States aggression and punishing sanctions.
The admission that Iran’s military leaders had lied that mechanical problems caused the crash of a Ukrainian passenger jet soon after take-off from Tehran last Wednesday, with the loss of 176 lives, has transformed a surge of nationalistic sentiment into anger and distrust in the government overnight. Thousands poured onto the streets to mourn the dead and condemn the regime after it emerged that Iran’s air defences had mistakenly shot the plane down.

Despite recriminations and political and diplomatic implications, the destruction of Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752 is foremost a terrible tragedy. Our first thoughts must be with the families of victims, mainly from Iran and Canada.

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Iranian President Hassan Rowhani has expressed deep regret for a “disastrous mistake” attributed to human error. But the apology was tainted by the delay in coming clean as Iran attempted a cover-up that was quickly exposed by independent tracking of the interception of the aircraft by missiles. And the question remains, amid hostilities such as the US drone strike and retaliatory Iranian missile strikes at American bases, why Tehran’s civilian airport was still operating at all. At the same time, Iran is making the most of the exculpatory argument that US escalation of confrontation had reached a pitch of tension and fear that made dangerous accidents more likely to occur.

The finger pointing should not be overdone, however ample the scope. This is a time for resolute focus on dialling down the tension and on how to secure regional peace and security. Some way has to be found to get all the stakeholders together and initiate discussion of reviving the agreement for dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat. That would be positive for global stability. As a first step, Iran should show full cooperation in the investigation of the disaster and compensation for the loss of the victims.

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