Iranian spox on plane crash, UK, US tensions

An Iranian Government spokesman on Monday rejected claims that the administration had covered up the truth about the crash of a Ukrainian airline on Wednesday.

Speaking in Tehran, Ali Rabiei insisted Iran's civilian officials only learned Friday that the Guard shot down the plane.

"Rest assured that the president (Hassan Rouhani) learned about it on Friday afternoon a 4pm. There is no doubt about that. The rest are just claims," said Rabiei.

Late announcement of the real cause of the Ukrainian airline passenger crash on Wednesday which was downed by a mistaken missile launch from the Revolutionary Guard's air defense system angered Iranians and led to protests on Saturday and Sunday.

Rabiei condemned the presence of UK ambassador Rob Macaire's presence among the student protesters on Saturday and urged Britain to refrain from "intervention in the country's internal affairs."

Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, who said he went with the intention of attending the vigil and did not know it would turn into a protest.

Rabiei added that as long as the US thinks it can get Iran to talk while enforcing maximum pressure, Tehran would not consider negotiations, repeating that removal of sanctions is Iran's pre-condition for any talks.