QUESTION @HassanRouhani
On the night of a military operation with the chance of a retaliatory response and while air defense systems are on highest alert, why allow civilian planes fly over the capital to lead to such a devastating yet preventable tragedy?
#PS572
On the night of a military operation with the chance of a retaliatory response and while air defense systems are on highest alert, why allow civilian planes fly over the capital to lead to such a devastating yet preventable tragedy?
#PS572
After a week of official denials that opened the door to lots of rumors and conspiracies, and in the middle of a politicized media atmosphere, this official acknowledgement and detailed explanation is a good first step towards transparency and responsibility. Also unprecedented.
This tragedy is very personal to me as a family member flew out of Tehran on another flight right before #PS752. It could have easily been their flight instead. And I have been rethinking this over and over in my mind.
This could happen to many of us, living in or outside Iran.
This could happen to many of us, living in or outside Iran.
Thanks to technology and internet and social media and our connected world, eyewitnesses in the outskirts of Tehran recorded videos of the incident from various angles that was quickly analyzed across the world by the @nytvideo team who did great work👇🏼
Also thanks to social networks especially @Twitter that in the absence of free press in Iran, provide an open platform for Iranian citizens to directly question and challenge their officials, and have a national debate on a topic that’s too sensitive for the media inside Iran.
The official acknowledgment and apology and explanation may not have come anytime soon or ever, if there wasn’t so much evidence and public pressure.
Good lesson for the witnesses who took a risk to act as responsible citizens. And for the public who kept pushing for answers.
Good lesson for the witnesses who took a risk to act as responsible citizens. And for the public who kept pushing for answers.
Iranian officials are responsible for this tragedy and are wrong to point their finger at anyone but themselves.
The structural incompetence that led to this tragedy must be examined and transformed, to prevent future tragedies.
The structural incompetence that led to this tragedy must be examined and transformed, to prevent future tragedies.
This is the tragedy of war. This human error happened in an atmosphere of war between Iran and the US. 176 lives were lost before the war even started. Imagine how many more will die if war starts.
It is time for Iran and the US to deescalate tensions and prevent more tragedies.
It is time for Iran and the US to deescalate tensions and prevent more tragedies.
Here is one of the many stories👇🏼
Man who lost his wife and daughter
Man who lost his wife and daughter
A former senior US official just told me if @realDonaldTrump were smart, he would use this as the moment to de-escalate and make a real offer to Iran.
I agree. Now is the time for both sides to put diplomats in the driving seat and pursue real diplomacy instead of conflict.
I agree. Now is the time for both sides to put diplomats in the driving seat and pursue real diplomacy instead of conflict.
Iranians have experienced this human error once before. In 1988 a US Navy warship in the Persian Gulf shot down an Iranian civilian flight and killed 290 onboard including 66 children. It was at the end of the Iran-Iraq war. A tragedy of war that’s still alive in people’s minds. 
This is also interesting
Iran🇮🇷 US🇺🇸 Russia🇷🇺
Iran🇮🇷 US🇺🇸 Russia🇷🇺
Sad joke circulating in Iran:
IRGC warned Pentagon that if the US makes any moves, IRGC will destroy all of Iran. (@ymirdamadi)
Iranians are furious saying IRGC made sure their retaliation on US forces in Iraq left no casualties, but didn’t care as much about Iranian civilians.
IRGC warned Pentagon that if the US makes any moves, IRGC will destroy all of Iran. (@ymirdamadi)
Iranians are furious saying IRGC made sure their retaliation on US forces in Iraq left no casualties, but didn’t care as much about Iranian civilians.
Many Iranians say if this was a domestic flight on an Iranian carrier and not an international airliner, and if passengers were only Iranians and not dual nationals or residents of other countries, Iranian officials would continue to deny.
Not much trust in the system, if any.
Not much trust in the system, if any.
