Renewed Iranian-US tensions after civilian plane incident over Syria

Noura Bendari

A new crisis is looming on the horizon between the United States and Iran, but this time in Syria’s airspace.

This is coming a short time after two American fighter jets flew in close proximity to an Iranian passenger plane that was flying over an American military base in Syria.

The incident, which took place on July 23, forced the pilots of the Iranian plane to descend abruptly, causing injuries to passengers, before landing in Beirut International Airport.

Iranian government officials are using the event in launching a new wave of threats against and criticism of the United States.

They warned against intercepting the plane once more on its way back to Tehran.

Iran also filed a complaint at the United Nations Security Council against what it described as “American provocations”.

Iranian threats

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said on July 24 that his country’s representative at the United Nations would submit a detailed report about the incident to the United Nations Secretary General and the Security Council.

Iran, he said, would take all the necessary legal measures against the United States.

Iranian officials also conducted a large round of international contacts, warning the United States against intercepting the plane on its way back to Tehran.

An Iranian lawmaker wrote on Twitter on July 25 that the United States should wait for the adverse ramifications of its action.

An Iranian judicial official also said that his country would take legal action against Washington on the passenger plane incident.

The incident, he said, is a flagrant example of American air piracy.

He added that the United States had always been in the habit of committing this piracy.

Coincidence?

Iranian affairs specialist Osama al-Hatimi said the incident was most probably intentional.

“Otherwise, the United States would have defended itself against Iranian threats and accusations by saying that it did not it plan it,” al-Tatimi told The Reference.

He added that the United States had chosen this timing for intercepting the Iranian plane.

Al-Hatimi noted that this is especially true in the light of the fact that this was not the first time an Iranian passenger plane flew over an American military base in Syria.

“The United States wanted to drive the message home that it is aware of everything that happens in the airspace of Syria, Iraq and Lebanon,” al-Hatimi said.