Anger is growing in the land. Vigils turned to mass protests as the mourners started calling for resignation of Iranian leaders are swelling by day.
Some could not behold their sight just as the rest could not hold their tears when some Iranians “best and brightest” became charred after the downed plane’s inferno.
US President Donald Trump Iranian leaders placed $80 million for his head is having his giggle over admission by Tehran that its forces mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing 176 people on board.
Trump warned “To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!”
Yet, a group of Iranian protesters has demanded Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders step down.
“Commander-in-chief [Khamenei] resign, resign,” videos posted on Twitter showed hundreds of people chanting in front of Tehran’s Amir Kabir University on Saturday.
Protesters chanted slogans denouncing “liars” and demanded the resignation and prosecution of those responsible for downing the plane and allegedly covering up the accidental action.
Others on Twitter asked why the Boeing 737-800 was allowed to take off on Wednesday, at a time when tensions between the United States and Iran were so high – Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed moments after departing from Tehran, hours after Iran struck bases housing US troops in neighbouring Iraq in retaliation to the US assassination of a top Iranian commander last week.
ALJAZEERA reports that Fars news agency reported that Iranian police dispersed students that were chanting “destructive” and “radical” slogans during the gathering in the capital.
The United Kingdom confirmed its ambassador, Rob Macaire, was arrested briefly during the demonstrations, accused of “inciting” the protesters in front of the Amir Kabir University. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the arrest was a “flagrant violation of international law” and repeated calls for Iran to de-escalate tensions.
Earlier on Saturday, after days of denials, Iran said its military had shot down the Ukrainian plane, calling it a “disastrous mistake” but blaming the US for heightened tension.
The military claimed air defences were fired in error during an alert which was imposed after the missile struck against US targets in Iraq. Authorities promised to bring those responsible to justice.
“There is a lot of anger. Iranians are demanding justice and accountability. Many people including families of the victims are in shock. They do not understand why their government would have lied to them for this long.
“Vigils that were held near Amir Kabir University quickly turned into anti-government protests with people calling for the IRGC to leave the country,” she said, referring to the elite Islamic Revolution Guard Corps,” Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari reported.
Iran’s leadership last faced mass protests in November following the rise in petrol prices. The country has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis since President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 the US from the nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers in 2015 and reimposed punishing sanctions.
Iranian Parliament has dismissed any cover-up and vowed to carry out investigation in the Ukrainian ariliner’s crash.
At the moment, the Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and leaders are in dilemma: resign or hold onto power.
