Hasan Rowhani, the outgoing president of Iran, admitted on Sunday that his cabinet did not tell citizens “part of the truth,” the PA agency said. “I didn’t find it useful and I was afraid it would hurt national unity,” he argued. Rowhani did not explain what he meant. The PA recalled, however, that during his eight-year rule, a Ukrainian plane was shot down near Tehran. Iran officially claims that it happened as a result of “human error”.
Outgoing Iranian President Hasan Rowhani spoke to his fellow countrymen in a speech broadcast on state television on Sunday. “What we told the people wasn’t against reality, but we didn’t tell the people part of the truth,” he said. “Because I didn’t find it useful and I was afraid it would hurt national unity,” he argued.
“If we have flaws, we apologize to people and ask for their forgiveness and mercy,” he added during his last cabinet meeting as president.
Hasan RowhaniPAP / EPA / IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT
Rowhani did not explain the case, but the PA reiterates that during his reign, the armed forces as a result “catastrophic human error” in a period of increased tensions from the US shot down a plane of the Ukrainian airline Ukraine International Airlines with 176 people on board. Iranian authorities did not admit shooting down the Boeing until three days later.
Ebrahim Raisi, the new president of Iran
The presidential election held in Iran in June was won by the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi. Iran’s new president is due to be sworn in on Thursday.
Rowhani served as head of state for two four-year terms, and therefore could no longer stand in the elections.
Main photo source: PAP / EPA / IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT