Iranian newspapers widely covered the revelation that the Revolutionary Guards accidentally shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board. Some of the headlines were mournful while others expressed anger at the government, which denied responsibility for three days before admitting fault. The papers largely refrained from covering anti-government protests sparked by the news, probably due to censorship, but many outlets were critical of the handling of the situation. Reformist newspaper Etemad was the boldest. “Apologize, Resign,” read its front page on January 12. “Being Prosecuted by Public Opinion: 27 Questions on Disastrous Plane Crash,” read one headline in Shahrvand, another reformist paper. The following is a roundup of front pages and headlines with translation from IFP News.
January 12
Etemad:
1- Apologize, Resign
* People Call for Apology, Resignation of Officials Involved
2- IRGC General: Armed Forces Didn’t Want to Hide Truth
Khorasan:
Even More Bitter than Coffee
Iran:
Unforgivable: Three Days after Disaster, Human Error Blamed for Ukraine Plan Crash
Shahrvand:
Being Prosecuted by Public Opinion: 27 Questions on Disastrous Plane Crash
Afkar:
We’re Deeply Sorry
Arman-e Melli:
We Can’t Believe It
* Official Denials Unforgivable Sin
Donya-ye Eqtesad:
Second Shock of a Crash
Ebtekar:
1- IRGC Aerospace Commander Accepts All Responsibility, Blames Human Error
2- Rouhani: A Wrong Shot Created Big Disaster
Hamshahri:
Embarrassment: Iranian Media Apologize to Nation for False News
Javan:
1- Deep Apology for Painful Mistake
2- IRGC Aerospace Chief: I Wish I Had Died and Wouldn’t See That Incident
3- Zarif: US Adventure Resulted in Human Error behind Plane Crash
Aftab-e Yazd:
Unveiling Bitter Truth
* Boeing 737 Plane Crashed Not for Technical Problem, but by Air Defense Missile
Resalat:
Double Catastrophe
Shargh:
Big Apology for Huge Tragedy
January 13
Abrar:
IRGC Chief: I’m Sorrier than Anyone for Crash of Ukraine Plane
Arman-e Melli:
1- Who’s Responsible for Airspace Above Imam Khomeini Airport?
2- Sporadic Protests in Tehran, Some Cities
Javan:
IRGC Chief: We’d Die for People’s Security and Welfare
* We Made a Mistake; Some of Our People Died for Our Mistake; but It Was Unintentional; We Apologize and Will Compensate
January 14
Arman-e Melli:
Celebrities Withdrawing from State-Run Fajr Festival One by One
* More than 30 filmmakers, artists and cartoonists said they would not participate in the Fajr festival, Iran’s equivalent of the Oscars, in April. It was an act of protest. "The only way out of the current situation is a crucial decision and straight talking by authorities with the people," they wrote in a statement.
