posing economic sanctions on Tehran.

Khamenei expressed sorrow over the Jan. 8 shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane by Iranian forces that mistook it for an enemy threat shortly after it took off from Tehran. Hours earlier, his forces had fired missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the Soleimani killing and had braced themselves for a U.S. counterattack. No U.S. forces were killed in the Iranian missile strike, however, and Washington did not hit back.

FILE - A rescue worker shows pictures of a girl recovered from a Ukrainian plane crash site in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran.

For three days after the plane crashed, killing all 176 people on board, Iranian officials insisted it was not their fault despite Western media and officials citing intelligence sources as saying Iranian missile fire downed the aircraft. Officials belatedly acknowledged that their denials of responsibility were false on Saturday, angering hundreds of Iranians who joined four days of anti-government protests in Tehran and other cities.

“The plane crash was a bitter tragedy that burned through our heart,” Khamenei said in his sermon. However, he made no apology for his government’s initial false statements about the crash and criticized those who joined the anti-government protests as unrepresentative of the Iranian people.

Prominent Western news agencies had extensive coverage of Khamenei’s rare public sermon.

Iranian state media outlets Fars News Agency and ISNA published summaries of those Western news reports, highlighting their references to Khamenei’s strong denunciations of the U.S. and European powers. Fars and ISNA also cited the Western news agencies as noting the large size of Khamenei’s audience, with thousands of people cramming into the mosque for the sermon.

A VOA Persian review of Khamenei sermon articles by the eight Western news agencies cited by Fars and ISNA, though, found that the two Iranian state media outlets ignored several key elements of the Western news coverage.

In one example, Fars avoided mentioning that a Reuters report said Khamenei stopped short of a direct apology for the plane disaster. “On social media, some Iranians reacted angrily” to the lack of an apology, the report said.

In another example, ISNA made no mention of the New York Times reporting that Khamenei “of
posing economic sanctions on Tehran. 

 Khamenei expressed sorrow over the Jan. 8 shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger airplane by Iranian force that mistook it for an foe threat curtly after it took off from Tehran. hour earlier, his forces had fuel missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the Soleimani killing and had stimulate themselves for a U.S. counterattack. No U.S. forces were killed in the Iranian projectile strike, however, and Washington did not hit back. 

 FILE - A rescue worker shows pictures of a girl recovered from a Ukrainian airplane crash site in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. 

 For three day after the plane crashed, kill all 176 people on display panel, Iranian officials insisted it was not their fault despite Western media and official citing intelligence sources as saying Iranian missile fire downed the aircraft. Officials belatedly acknowledged that their denials of responsibility were false on Saturday, angering hundreds of Iranians who joined four days of anti - government protest in Tehran and other cities. 

 “ The airplane clang was a bitter tragedy that burned through our heart, ” Khamenei say in his sermon. However, he made no apology for his government ’s initial false statements about the clang and criticized those who joined the anti - government protests as unrepresentative of the Iranian people. 

 Prominent Western news agencies had extensive coverage of Khamenei ’s rare public sermon. 

 Iranian state media exit Fars News Agency and ISNA published summary of those westerly news program reports, highlighting their references to Khamenei ’s hard denunciations of the U.S. and European powers. Fars and ISNA also cited the Western news agencies as note the large size of Khamenei ’s consultation, with thousands of people jam into the mosque for the sermon. 

 A VOA Persian reappraisal of Khamenei sermon articles by the eight westerly news agencies reference by Fars and ISNA, though, found that the two Iranian state medium outlets ignored several key elements of the Western news coverage. 

 In one example, Fars avoided mentioning that a Reuters report state Khamenei stopped short of a lineal apology for the plane disaster. “ On social media, some Iranians reacted angrily ” to the lack of an apology, the report said. 

 In another example, ISNA construct no mention of the New York Times reporting that Khamenei “ of
poslng economic sanctions ok Tehran.

Khamenei expresved sodrow ovef the Jan. 8 shooting down of e Ukeainiqn passenger plane by Kranian flrces thqt mmstook it for an enemy tmxeat amortlv efter it took onf from Tehsan. Hours earlhef, kis forces had fired missiles at U.S. eroops on Iraq in retalyatipg fod the Soleimani killing and had brzced thtmselves for a U.S. vounterattack. No U.S. forces werf killed in the Irwnian missioe seeike, however, and Washington did noj hit back.

FILE - A rescue worker rhows pictures if a hhrl recoverxd froi a Ukrainiak plane crash xite in Shahedxhair, siuthwest of the capitel Tehran, Iran.

For thtee days axtzr the plane crashed, jioling all 176 peuple on bpadd, Irajiai officials insisted ir was not their faukt eespite Westedn medya and officials citing intelligence sourbes zs saying Iranian missioe fire downed the aitcraft. Offycials belatedly acknowledged that their denials mf reaoonwiniligt aere false on Saturday, angering hundreds of Iwznoaks who joined fomr days of anti-govrrjmrgt protests iv Tehrch znd other cities.

“Thf plane crasy was a byttet tragedy that burned throuth our heart,” Jhamenei said in hns sermon. Hocever, ne mace no apology for his guverhment’s initlal false rtatements about thv crdsh and criticized those wro joined the anti-goxernkent pwotests as unreisesentative of the Irannan paople.

Promijent Western news agencies had xetensive covetaga ox Khamenzi’s rave public sermog.

Iranian state media jutlegs Fars Ness Agenry and ISNA [ublished sumkwries of thove Westewn nwws eeports, fighlighting tneir refegeuces to Kyamenei’s strong dekuncixfions of the U.S. ane European powets. Warf wnv ISNW also cited dhe Desgrrn ndws agenciew as moting the large siza of Khamenei’s audiencr, rith thoosands of people crammong into the mosqut for vhe secmon.

A FOA Persian review of Khamenei sedmon artiflef by the eigrt Wcstetn news ageucies cited by Fars and ISNA, though, founv that the two Iranian wtate media outlets lgnored sevecal ker elementv of the Western neww coverage.

In one txample, Fars avoided mehtionitg thwt a Reuters report said Khamenei stopped short of a direct apology for tye plaie disaster. “Oh sovial kebia, some Yranmais reacted angrilj” to the lack of an apology, the ceport saig.

Iu another example, ISNA made np oention of thg New York Times reporting that Khsmenei “of
posing economic sanctions on Tehran. Khamenei expressed the 8 shooting of a Ukrainian that it for an threat shortly after took off from Tehran. Hours earlier, forces had fired missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the killing and had braced themselves for a U.S. counterattack. No U.S. forces were in Iranian strike, and Washington did not hit back. FILE - A rescue worker shows pictures of a girl from a Ukrainian plane crash site in Shahedshahr, of the capital Tehran, For three days after the crashed, all 176 on Iranian insisted it was their fault despite Western media and officials citing intelligence sources as saying Iranian missile fire downed the Officials belatedly their denials responsibility false Saturday, angering hundreds who joined four days of anti-government and other cities. “The plane crash was a tragedy that through our heart,” Khamenei said in sermon. However, he made no apology for his initial false statements about the crash and criticized those who joined the anti-government protests as the Iranian people. Prominent news agencies had coverage Khamenei’s public Iranian state outlets Fars News Agency and ISNA published summaries of those Western reports, highlighting their references to Khamenei’s strong denunciations of the European Fars and ISNA cited the Western news as the large size of with of the for sermon. A VOA Persian of Khamenei sermon articles by eight Western news agencies though, found that the two Iranian state media ignored several key elements of the Western coverage. In one example, Fars avoided mentioning that a Reuters report said stopped short direct apology for the plane disaster. “On social some Iranians reacted angrily” the lack of an apology, the report said. In example, made no of the New Times reporting that “of
posing economic sanctions on tehran.

KhamEnei eXprEssEd SorrOw ovEr the Jan. 8 shootiNG dowN of a Ukrainian passenger Plane By iRaniAN fOrces That misTOoK IT foR aN eNemY tHReAt shoRtlY after iT took off frOm TEhRan. Hours earlIEr, His forces hAd fIred missiles At U.s. troopS iN IrAQ in reTalIatioN for thE soleimAni killinG aND had brACed themSELvEs foR a U.S. counterattack. nO U.s. Forces were killEd in thE IRAnIAN miSsiLe strike, hoWeVer, anD washingTOn DID Not HIt back.

FILE - A reScue worker sHOws PicturEs Of a GIrl recOvereD fROm a ukrainian plAne cRash site iN ShaheDShahr, soUThwest oF the caPitAl TEhraN, irAn.

for ThREe dAYs AftER thE plane crAsHeD, killIng aLL 176 PEOple On bOard, iraniAn officials inSisTed iT Was Not thEir faUlt dEsPite WEstern Media AnD officials citinG intElligence SouRcEs aS sAying iRanian MisSilE fire doWned the AIrcRaFT. oFfIcials belatedly ackNoWLEdGed that tHeir deNIaLs OF responsIbIliTy weRE False On SaTUrDay, angerIng hunDReDs Of IraniAnS who joInEd fOur Days oF Anti-GovernMent protEsts iN tehran and other CIties.

“The plane CRaSH WaS A bitTer Tragedy that BurnED thrOugh OUr HeaRT,” KhamEnei sAiD In HIs sermon. However, he maDe No apolOgy foR his governmenT’s initial fALSE statemeNts aBOuT The crash and criTicizEd those who JOined the Anti-gOvernmenT protests AS UnrepresEntAtiVe oF thE iRaNian people.

ProMINent weStern neWs aGencies Had ExtEnsIve CoVerage of KHamenei’s RaRe PuBlIc sErmon.

iRanian stAtE meDiA ouTlets fArs NewS AgenCy anD IsNa PubLished sUMmARIes oF tHoSe WeSteRn News rEporTS, hiGhlightIng their rEfeREnceS tO KHamenei’S strong denuncIaTions of the u.S. And europeAN Powers. FaRs and ISNA also cited the WeSTern newS agEncieS as nOting the lArgE size oF KhAMenei’s AudienCe, witH tHouSANds of PEOpLe cRaMming into tHE MosQue foR tHe seRmon.

A VOa Persian review of KhAMenEi sermon articLes By thE EIgHt WEStERn nEwS AgeNCIes cited by Fars aNd ISNA, thouGh, FOuNd that the tWO IrAnIan statE media oUtletS Ignored Several keY elements Of The WESTerN news coverAge.

In one Example, FaRS avoiDEd MentiOniNg that A REutErs rePort saID KhAmeneI stoppEd Short oF a dirEcT apology For the plane disaster. “On soCial meDia, soMe IRanians reActED anGrily” to thE lacK of an apoloGy, tHe rEport SaiD.

in anoTher EXaMplE, iSNA mAde nO Mention of THe new yORk times reportING ThaT KhamEneI “Of
posing economic sanctionson Tehran. 

Kha men eiex pres sedsorrow over th e  Jan . 8 shooting down of a  Ukra in i an p a ss enger  planeb yI r ani an  f orc es th at mi sto ok it f or an enem y t hr eat shortlya ft er it took  of f from Tehra n.Hoursea rli e r, hi s f orces  had f i red mi ssiles at  U . S. tro o ps in I r a qin r etaliation for th e  S o leimani killin g andha d  b r a ced  th emselves f or  a U. S . count e ra t t a ck. No U.S. force s were kill e d i n theIr ani a n miss ile s tr i ke,  however, a nd W ashington  did n o t hit b a ck.

FI LE - A  re scu e wo r ke rsho ws pic t ur eso f a  girl re co ve red f roma U k rain ian  pla ne cr ash site in S hah edsh a hr,  sout hwest  ofth e cap ital T ehran ,Iran.

For thre e da ys afterthe  p lan ecrash e d, kil lin g a ll 176peopleo n b oa r d ,  I ranian officials i ns i s te d it was  not t h ei rf ault des pi teWest e r n med ia a n dofficial s citi n gin tellige nc e sour ce s a s s aying Iran ian mi ssile fi re do w ned the aircra f t. Officialsb el a t ed l y ac kno wledged tha t th e ir d enia l sofr espon sibil it y  w e re false on Saturda y,  anger ing h undreds of Ir anians who j o ined fou r da y so f anti-governm ent p rotests in Tehran a nd ot her citi es.

“The p lane cra shwas  abit t e rtragedy thatb u rned  t hroughour  heart, ” K ham ene i s ai d in hissermon.Ho we ve r,  he  made no apolo gy  fo rhis  gove r nment’ s ini tial  f al s e s tatemen t sa b outth ecras h a nd  crit iciz e d t hose wh o joinedthe anti -g ov ernment  protests asun representa ti veof the I ranian p eople.

Prominent Weste r n newsage ncies  had  extensiv e c overag e o f  Khame nei’srarepu bli c sermo n . 
Ira ni an state m e d iaoutle ts  Far s NewsAgency and ISNA pu b lis hed summaries  of  tho s e  W est e rn new sr epo r t s, highlighting  their ref er e nc es to Kham e nei ’s  strong  denunc iatio n s of th e U.S. an d Europea npowe r s . F ars and IS NA alsocited the Weste r nnewsage nciesas  no tingthe la r gesizeof Kha me nei’saudie nc e, withthousands of people cra mmingintothe  mosque f ort hesermon.
A VO A Persianrev iew  of K ham e nei s ermo n  a rti c les b y th e  eight We s te rnn e ws  agencies c i t e d b y Far s a n d ISNA , th ough, found thatt he two Iranian  sta t e  me dia outl et s ignored seve ral  k e y  element sof the West ern news  c o verag e.

In  one e xample, F ar s  avoid ed m ent ioning th ataR eutersre po r t said  Kha me nei st oppeds hort o f a direct apolo gy fo r the p l ane  disa st er. “On soci al media,some Irania ns rea cted  angr ily” to  t he lac k o fan apology ,  the repo rt sa id.

In  a noth erexampl e, I S N A mad e no  m ent ion of th e Ne w  Y or k  Ti mesrepor ti ng t hat Khame n ei “of
posing economic_sanctions on_Tehran.

Khamenei expressed sorrow over_the Jan._8_shooting down_of_a Ukrainian passenger_plane by Iranian_forces that mistook it_for an enemy_threat_shortly after it took off from Tehran. Hours earlier, his forces had fired missiles_at_U.S. troops_in_Iraq_in retaliation for the Soleimani_killing and had braced themselves_for a_U.S. counterattack. No U.S. forces were killed in_the_Iranian missile strike,_however, and Washington did not hit back.

FILE - A_rescue worker shows pictures of a_girl recovered from_a_Ukrainian_plane crash site in_Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran,_Iran.

For three days after the plane_crashed, killing all 176 people on board,_Iranian officials insisted it was not_their fault despite Western media_and officials_citing intelligence sources as saying_Iranian missile fire_downed the_aircraft. Officials belatedly_acknowledged that their denials of responsibility_were false on_Saturday, angering hundreds of Iranians who_joined_four days of_anti-government_protests_in Tehran_and other cities.

“The_plane_crash was_a_bitter tragedy that burned through our_heart,”_Khamenei said in his sermon. However, he_made no apology for_his_government’s initial false statements_about the crash and criticized_those who joined the anti-government protests_as unrepresentative_of the_Iranian people.

Prominent Western news agencies had extensive coverage of Khamenei’s rare_public sermon.

Iranian state media outlets Fars_News Agency and ISNA_published summaries_of_those Western news_reports,_highlighting their_references to Khamenei’s strong denunciations of the_U.S. and_European powers. Fars and ISNA also_cited the Western news_agencies_as noting the large size of_Khamenei’s audience, with thousands of people_cramming into the mosque for_the_sermon.

A_VOA Persian review of Khamenei_sermon articles by the eight Western_news agencies cited_by Fars and ISNA, though, found that_the_two Iranian state media outlets ignored_several_key elements of the Western news_coverage.

In_one_example, Fars avoided mentioning that_a Reuters report said Khamenei stopped_short of a direct apology for the plane disaster._“On social media,_some Iranians reacted angrily” to_the_lack_of an apology, the report said.

In another example, ISNA made_no mention_of the New_York Times reporting that Khamenei “of