AhlulBayt News Agency: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has strongly criticized the United States for what he described as its disregard for international law and its double standards on the value of human life.
While commemorating the victims of Iran Air Flight 655—downed by the US Navy in 1988—Baghaei condemned Washington’s lack of accountability, pointing out that instead of punishment, the warship’s commander received an award.
He accused the US of hypocrisy for labeling the attack a mistake, while harshly condemning the Soviet Union for a similar incident in 1983 involving a Korean Airliner.
On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all passengers and crew members aboard.
The aircraft, an Airbus A300B2, was flying from Bandar Abbas to Dubai when the warship fired missiles at it over the Strait of Hormuz. A total of 274 passengers and 16 crew members were on board.
The resulting explosion caused the plane to disintegrate and plunge into the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people onboard, including 66 children.
The US later claimed it had mistaken the civilian aircraft for an enemy warplane, despite the warship being equipped with advanced radar and electronic warfare systems.
In 1990, USS Vincennes captain William C. Rogers was cleared of any wrongdoing and was even awarded the Legion of Merit by President George H. W. Bush for what was termed “outstanding service” in the Persian Gulf.
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