Senator Elizabeth Warren finally weighed-in Monday on the ongoing political crisis sweeping Iran; saying she supports of the people’s right to protest “but this isn’t about us.”
“I support the right of the people of Iran to peacefully protest against their corrupt government. But this isn’t about us. We should support them, including by lifting the Muslim Ban—not try to engineer regime change or recklessly risk a war,” posted Warren on social media after days of silence.
I support the right of the people of Iran to peacefully protest against their corrupt government. But this isn’t about us. We should support them, including by lifting the Muslim Ban—not try to engineer regime change or recklessly risk a war.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 13, 2020
The growing pro-Democracy demonstrations in Iran turned violent Monday when police apparently fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the growing crowd.
“Popular anger swelled Monday in Iran over the accidental shootdown of a Ukrainian jetliner and the government’s attempt to conceal its role in the tragedy, as online videos appeared to show security forces firing live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protests in the streets,” reports the Associated Press.
“For a growing number of critics — from ordinary citizens to notable athletes and artists — the events have revealed a government that is incapable of following through on its incendiary rhetoric and willing to mislead its own people about a national tragedy in order to avoid embarrassment,” adds the AP.
“They are lying that our enemy is America! Our enemy is right here!” students shouted.
Source: Associated Press
DEVELOPING NOW: Ukraine-Bound Passenger Jet Crashes in Iran Killing 176
A Boeing 737 jetliner traveling to Kiev, Ukraine crashed in Iran Wednesday; killing all 167 passengers and nine crew members on board.
“The plane crashed shortly after 6 a.m. local time, minutes into the flight. Press photos showed emergency workers combing through a wide field of wreckage outside of Tehran,” reports CNBC.
82 Iranians, 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians were on board the plane https://t.co/KVACERHDeb
— TIME (@TIME) January 8, 2020
“The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and such determinations take months, but Iran’s Fars news agency reported that the jet crashed due to technical problems, without providing more detail. The Ukrainian embassy in Iran said engine failure had caused the crash, citing preliminary information. However, it later removed that statement and said ‘any statements regarding the causes of the accident prior to the decision of the commission are not official,’” adds the website.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source: CNBC
REPORT: Pentagon Officials Believe Ukraine Passenger Jet Shot Down by Mistake by Iranian Missile
Officials at the Pentagon believe a Ukrainian commercial jet may have been accidentally destroyed by Iranian Surface-to-Air missiles this week; downing the aircraft shortly after take-off from Tehran’s International Airport.
“The Ukrainian plane that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport was shot down by mistake by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile,” Pentagon officials told Fox News.
Iran mistakenly shot down Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed on Wednesday near Tehran, US media report https://t.co/JMUJhBWG6V
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 9, 2020
“Ukraine earlier said it was examining whether a missile strike brought down the aircraft – but Iran ruled this out,” reports the BBC. “The crash came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.