Netanyahu: Iran lied about downing plane

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Iran "knew from the start" it downed a passenger plane.

"They knew that it was an unintentional downing but they lied intentionally," said Netanyahu during  a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, "they deceived the entire world."

Iran deployed riot police in the capital on Sunday expecting possible protests after its Revolutionary Guard admitted to accidentally shooting down a passenger plane at a time of soaring tensions with the United States.

The plane crash early Wednesday killed all 176 people on board, mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians.

After initially blaming a technical failure, authorities finally admitted to accidentally shooting it down in the face of mounting evidence and accusations by Western leaders.

The plane was shot down as Iran braced for retaliation after firing ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing US forces.

The ballistic missile attack, which caused no casualties, was a response to the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, Iran's top general, in a US airstrike in Baghdad.

Netanyahu also expressed his sorrow at the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said and offered condolences to the people of Oman.

In 2018, the sultan hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a surprise visit, further cementing Oman's strategic ability to be a facilitator and even mediator.

In a tweet Saturday, Netanyahu said that the meeting was "unbelievably important and exciting," and called the late sultan "a great leader who worked tirelessly to promote peace and stability in our region."

Oman's new ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, vowed Saturday to uphold his predecessor Sultan Qaboos bin Said's foreign policy.