Stating that hours ago he was informed of the outcome of the General Staff of the Armed Forces’ investigation into the Ukrainian passenger plane crash, he said: "In the atmosphere of threats and intimidation by the aggressive American regime against the Iranian nation after the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, and in order to defend ourselves against possible attacks by the American Army, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were on full alert, which unfortunately led to this terrible catastrophe taking the lives of dozens of innocent people because of human error and mistaken shooting."

He said that Iran was deeply sorry by this disastrous mistake and extended condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic incident on behalf of Iran state.

He also added that he instructed all related organs to take all necessary measures to compensate and sympathize with the victims' families.

A Ukraine Airlines aircraft crashed near Tehran minutes after the take-off from Imam Khomeini Airport after its engine caught fire on Wednesday. All of its 167 passengers and nine crew members were killed in the crash.

Iran's armed forces said in a statement on Saturday that it targeted the passenger plane unintentionally. (ILKHA)