Plane crashes urge Iran to attack sanctions

Recent airplane crashes have caused Iranian officials to lash out at the West, saying the sanctions imposed upon Iran are a 'violation of human rights.'

Iran's foreign ministry has blamed Western sanctions for two recent deadly Iranian airline crashes and the nation's poor flying overall. Two devastating airplane crashes have occurred in Iran in July alone, and the Iranian government has sought to have the sanctions lifted - saying the sanctions are a "violation of human rights." "'Sanctions barring sale of Western aircraft or their spare parts to Iran is a serious case of human rights violation,' Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi was quoted as saying," according to Xinhua. "'Imposition of these sanctions since the onset of the Revolution signifies violation of human rights and if any individual or any of the countries that have imposed these embargoes (on Iran) wants to correct his/its past mistakes, there won't be any reason for Iran to reject it,' Qashqavi told reporters," reported Fars News Agency. Western nations have ratcheted up the sanctions on Iran in response to Iranian insistence on pursuing nuclear technology that the West fears will lead to the development of nuclear weapons. Iran denies its nuclear ambitions have anything to do with the creation of weapons. Qashqavi's comments were made after the U.S. State Department offered Iran assistance with its air safety. Nearly 200 people have been killed in Iran in two separate airplane crashes.