Crash may be grim echo of US downing of Iran flight in 1988

Western allegation that  Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner and killed 176 people offers a grim echo for Islamic Republic, which found itself victim of an accidental shootdown by American forces over 30 years ago.

July 3, 1988 downing of Iran Air flight 655 by U.S. Navy remains one of moments Iranian government points to in its deces-long distrust of America. y rank it alongside

As recently as last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani referenced attack in criticizing President Donald Trump's comments that U.S. forces h picked out

“Those who refer to number 52 should also remember number 290. #IR655,”

attack on Iran Air flight followed what U.S. Navy refers to as Operation Praying Mantis, a daylong naval battle in Persian Gulf between American forces and Iran during country's long 1980s war with Iraq. That battle came after USS Samuel B. Robertson struck a mine that Americans later accused Iran of laying in shipping channels it was trying to keep open for Kuwaiti oil tankers amid

After battle, U.S. forces continued to patrol shipping channels while Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard often harassed or swarmed incoming ships with smaller vessels. That's a tactic used even today in narrows of Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of world's oil passes.

Just after dawn on July 3, 1988, USS Vincennes sent a helicopter to hover over Iranian speedboats Navy described as harassing commercial ships. Iranians allegedly fired on helicopter and Vincennes gave chase, Navy said. Unackwledged for years afterward by Navy though, Vincennes h crossed into Iranian territorial waters in pursuit. It began firing at Iranian ships re.

As fighting rd, Iran Air flight 655 took off from Bandar Abbas, Iran, heing for Dubai in United Arab Emirates. Airbus A300 began its ascent as rmal, part of a twice-weekly route flown by airline for over 20 years. captain communicated with air traffic controllers in English, His last mess was: "Thank you, good day."

Vincennes meanwhile h mistaken commercial aircraft for an Iranian F-14, despite having state-of--art combat equipment at time. U.S. says Navy me 11 rio warning calls on different frequencies before Vincennes fired two missiles at airplane, bringing it down and killing all aboard. aircraft's "black box" flight recorders were never recovered.

deaths shocked Iran, even amid carn of war with Iraq, which would kill 1 million people. Sixty-six of de were infants and children. Authorities lined up wooden caskets of some of de in front of parliament in Tehran. Iran ultimately would sue U.S., reaching a $131.8 million settlement.

U.S. later would give USS Vincennes Capt. William C. Rogers country's Legion of Merit award, furr angering Iran.

In years since, Iran state television airs live foot on anniversary of mourners wailing from boats at spot plane went down, tossing flowers into warm waters of Persian Gulf.

In recent years, hard-liners have begun linking trdy to Trump's maximalist campaign targeting Tehran, which included unilaterally withdrawing U.S. from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers and reimposing crushing sanctions. Trump's decision to include Iran among nations in his still-standing visa bans also angers Iranians with relatives in America or those hoping to study re.

But re's also widespre anger against Iran's government bubbling underneath surface. Ecomic protests have rocked country, with last round in vember over government-set gasoline prices rising seeing over 300 people reportedly killed. Iranian rial, around 32,000 to $1 at time of 2015 nuclear deal, is w 135,000 to $1.

Portraying U.S. as a menace has helped bolster support of Iran's government in past. U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week in Baghd helped with that, seeing over a million people turn up in Tehran alone for his multi-city funeral procession.

But even that processional ended with a stampede in Soleimani's hometown that killed at least 56 people and injured over 200 more. That night, Iran launched its ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops and buried general. At dawn, news broke about crash of Ukrainian flight.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.