The admission came as new surveillance footage purported to show two surface-to-air missiles 20 seconds apart shred the airplane and kill all 176 people aboard. The downing of the Ukraine International Airlines flight last week came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. over its unraveling nuclear deal. Iran for days afterward insisted a technical fault downed the 3½-year-old Boeing 737-800. However, Iran has said it will continue to allow the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog access to its nuclear sites. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Iranian state media said the British ambassador to Iran, Robert Macaire, had left the country.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 15, 2020 17:26 UTC