Khamenei asks Iraq to expel US, urges reinforcement of Iran-backed militants

In an interview with Iran International, Iranian-Canadian Javad Soleimani, who lost his wife Elnaz Nabiyi in the shoot-down, explained that the film would incorporate the families' own 2021 fact-finding report and address key developments since.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force shot down the Ukrainian airliner shortly after takeoff from Tehran, using two surface-to-air missiles on January 8, 2020.

Iranian authorities initially denied responsibility, only admitting to it three days later when confronted with intelligence and photographic evidence. Tehran has since continued to assert that the incident was the result of "human error."

Among those killed were 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents, as well as nationals from Iran, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom.

Soleimani and other families have since urged Canada and the affected countries to ensure Tehran faces justice. Expressing his frustration with Canada's response so far, Soleimani said, “Canada should have done a lot, and faster… it has been very hard on the families.”

“The most important issue bothering the families is that we still don’t know what happened that night. The Islamic Republic has not cooperated,” Soleimani said.

Soleimani argued that there is a lack of transparency and the withholding of critical information, including findings from the flight's black boxes. He told Iran International that countries in the international coordination group—Canada, Sweden, the UK, and Ukraine—have access to this information but have not shared it with the families.

There are currently three international judicial pathways underway over the downing, with Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, and the UK pursuing two.

In their case before the International Court of Justice, the four countries argue that Iran negligently and intentionally allowed Flight PS752 to be shot down, covered up the incident, mishandled the investigation, and harassed victims' families.

Ukraine, in its statement on the anniversary, said the countries would take steps to hold Tehran accountable before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – the UN aviation body – in the coming months.

Separately, the families have taken their fight to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims has submitted a legal request to the ICC prosecutor’s office, seeking to expand the ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine to include the Iranian missile strike that brought down Flight PS752.

Soleimani says the Canadian government did not back the families in this path. "The least Canada could have done is write a support letter, but they have not done that," he said.

The investigative film, titled “January 8, Frozen” is a way for the tragedy to be “visualized” and written into the history books in a significant way, Soleimani said. He also says the victims' families have united behind the film to raise awareness and highlight their ongoing efforts.

While Canada met one of the families’ major demands by listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity in 2024, Soleimani says there are many demands yet to be fully addressed.

He criticized the governments and the RCMP’s continued reluctance to open a criminal case, saying that, alongside Ukraine’s own criminal case, the two countries could have achieved much more.

When asked whether he believes the prorogation of Canada’s parliament after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation would impact the pursuit of justice, he said he was worried.

"Hopefully, it will not have an impact on the case before the ICJ,” he said, adding that “Whoever comes into power, we need more attention on PS752.”

Scheduled for release by the end of summer 2025, the film currently features several mothers of victims and will include contributions from more of the victims' families.

"If we don’t have the truth, there cannot be closure for any of the families. Justice can only happen, when there is also truth,” Soleimani said.

Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Iran’s refusal to engage with the US, despite maintaining ties with Europe, showed Washington's broader diplomatic failure.

"The United States has failed in Iran and is now seeking to compensate for this defeat," he said in a meeting with a group of his supporters from the city of Qom.

The comments come around two weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration and the likely return of his so-called maximum pressure sanctions policy on Iran.

Trump has said Iran cannot be allowed to gain nuclear weapons but has also suggest Washington is not seeking to topple the Islamic Republic by force.

Some Iranian officials and political figures, including aides to President Masoud Pezeshkian, have called for talks with Trump to mitigate punishing US-led sanctions.

Referring to Iran before the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei said, "America had effectively taken control of this country, but we wrested it away. Their grudge against our nation and revolution is profound."

In contrast to government officials and many others advocating for negotiations, Hossein Shariatmadari, Khamenei’s representative at Kayhan newspaper, denounced such proposals in an editorial, saying advocates for US negotiations are either "asleep, drunk or insane."

But in an apparent endorsement of Pezeshkian - an embattled relative moderate - Khamenei commended his stance against the United States and Israel, while urging officialdom to focus solely on the Islamic Republic’s interests in their policymaking.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told China’s CCTV in an interview published earlier in January that Tehran is ready for constructive and prompt nuclear negotiations.

Khamenei stressed the importance of supporting Iran-backed groups across the region, despite heavy blows they have received at Israel's hands, saying, “resistance remains alive and must grow stronger by the day.”

"The enemy's soft war aims to distort reality and separate it from public understanding," he said, warning against the influence of hostile propaganda on the public mood, which has soured after a year of economic and foreign policy setbacks.

"While you grow stronger, they claim you are weakening."

French President Emmanuel Macron this week warned Tehran's nuclear program is nearing the point of no return.

Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes but has accelerated activity since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal - officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - during his first term and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

"The Islamic Republic is fully prepared for all parties to return to the 2015 agreement and fulfill their mutual commitments," Pezeshkian said on Tuesday.

Last month, European powers France, Germany, and Britain warned that Iran’s actions had further eroded the agreement, noting that Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium has no credible civilian justification.

Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command arrested the 40-year-old man at a property in Cricklewood, London, on Tuesday, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

After being taken to a west London police station, he was released on bail until April while investigations continue.

The arrest is linked to the ongoing investigation into the assault, which occurred on March 29. Two Romanian nationals were previously arrested after being extradited from Romania in December.

Nandito Badea, 20, and George Stana, 24, have been charged with wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 December and were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 17.

Zeraati was stabbed outside his home in Wimbledon, south London, sustaining injuries to his leg. He was discharged from the hospital two days later.

According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, the motive for the attack remains unclear.

However, in light of previous threats from Iranian intelligence targeting Iran International journalists, the investigation is being led by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.

In 2022, Iran International temporarily relocated its television broadcasts from London to Washington, DC, after police uncovered direct threats against two other journalists at the organization and British intelligence services said they could no longer guarantee their safety.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on X Wednesday: "Diplomacy and teamwork: Cecilia Sala is coming home!"

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also tweeted Wednesday that Sala has been released and is on a plane returning home.

Later in the day, a video was released by Reuters showing Sala getting off the plane and hugging her partner, Daniele Raineri, as well as her parents Elisabetta Vernoni and Renato Sala. She also met the Italian prime minister at the airport.

Earlier, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Sala had been moved out of solitary confinement and was sharing a cell with another person.

Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old newspaper journalist and podcaster, was arrested in Iran last month on unspecified charges despite holding a valid press pass. She was placed in solitary confinement, sparking international concern.

A source familiar with discussions between Sala's family and the Italian government revealed to Iran International that Tehran has linked her release to Italy's handling of an Iranian detainee. Iran reportedly signaled that Sala's freedom depends on the release of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Iranian arrested by Italian authorities at the request of the United States. Abedini is accused of providing technology used in a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

The source indicated that Iran is prepared to release Sala “on humanitarian grounds” if Italy halts extradition proceedings against Abedini and frees him from Milan's La Opera prison.

"Let's enjoy Cecilia Sala's return to Italy", Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said when pressed by reporters on the possible release of the Iranian national.

"The Iranians themselves have separated the two cases," the Italian foreign minister said. "From day one we were right, we did what we could and had to do to bring an Italian citizen home."

Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio on Wednesday arrived at Palazzo Chigi, the Council of Ministers, to address the issue, according to Italian media, although he himself denied the meeting was held for that reason: "This is something I am not really thinking about at the moment".

Italian media reported that during New Year’s Day calls to her family, Sala described harsh conditions in detention. She said her prescription glasses had been confiscated, her cell was barely larger than her height, and she was forced to sleep on a blanket spread on the floor.

Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said: “Stability in Syria is the key to stability in the region."

He called for halting foreign interventions and ensuring that Syrians decide their future without external influence.

“We are ready to work with all parties to achieve stability in Syria, ensuring that all Syrians and various groups participate in shaping the country's future,” he added.

The meeting came in the wake of the December collapse of long-time President Bashar al-Assad’s government, marking a pivotal moment for Syria and the wider region.

Since the outbreak of Syria's conflict in 2011, Iran played a central role in supporting Assad’s regime.

Viewing Syria as a strategic ally in its Axis of Resistance against Israel and the West, Iran deployed financial and military resources, including IRGC personnel and Shiite militias.

However, Iran’s extensive involvement came at a severe cost to Syria's sovereignty and economy, fostering widespread resentment among Syrians.

President Pezeshkian welcomed al-Sudani’s visit, expressing hope for accelerated development in bilateral ties.

“We hope this visit, combined with the mutual trust between the two sides, will accelerate the development of cooperation and lead to significant progress in relations between the two countries,” he said.

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Pezeshkian also said, “Both countries share common concerns regarding Syria. These include ensuring stability and peace in Syria, preserving its territorial integrity, combating terrorist groups, the necessity of the Zionist regime's withdrawal from occupied territories, and respecting religious sentiments, particularly concerning Shiite holy sites.”

Iraq’s risk of Iranian influence

While Iran remains a key partner, its actions in Iraq parallel its approach in Syria, fostering Shiite militias under the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). These groups, acting as extensions of Tehran’s interests, have strained Baghdad's authority and fueled fears that Iraq could face a fate similar to Syria.

“We invite all countries to engage in dialogue among the nations of the region to ensure peace, stability, and security. Since its victory over ISIS, Iraq has consistently worked towards fostering calm in the region. Iraq operates based on understanding and dialogue between nations," al-Sudani said.

He also held talks with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian Parliament Speaker after the joint press conference in a bid to smooth out a pathway for the future without the risk of extensive Iranian involvement in Iraq.