On Sept. 30, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Falcon jet flew deep into Iranian airspace without authorization, Iranian international news network Press TV reported Oct. 8.
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After interrogation of the NATO personnel, and a full inspection of their equipment and papers, it was determined that the aircraft did not enter Iran intentionally. It was then allowed to leave for its earlier destination, Afghanistan, the report added.
Although U.S. personnel were not directly involved in this incident, a NATO plane violating Iran’s airspace is a dangerous development. This is not the first time that Iran’s border has been violated. Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports of U.S. drones entering Iranian airspace with the purpose of identifying the location of that country’s air defense radars. In March 2007, British forces occupying Iraq entered illegally into Iran’s territorial waters.
U.S. incursions into Iran’s territory have a bloody history. On July 3, 1988, U.S. Navy warship U.S.S. Vincennes shot down an Iranian civilian airliner, killing all 290 people on board, including 71 children. Washington alleged that the civilian airliner had made dangerous maneuvers or claimed that it was carrying out a military mission over international waters. In 1996, the U.S. government was forced to settle in the International Court of Justice by paying $61 million in compensation to the families of the victims.
In recent years, the U.S. government has pushed for sanctions against Iran to punish it for exercising its right to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have taken a threatening stance toward the Iranian government. This increased hostility from Washington and its allies gives Iran good reason to be concerned about violations of its borders and to demand explanations from all involved parties.
