Iranian air defense misidentified targets and shot down Ukrainian aircraft due to tensions with the US, according to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

"We are in a state of readiness to start a full-scale war with the United States. The air defense system mistook the civilian plane as a cruise missile," said General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the space space arm of the United States. Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), said on television today.

General Hajizadeh confirmed that the Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down by a short-range air defense complex, saying what happened when Iranian armed forces were preparing to confront a potential attack from the US and "at risk". "unprecedented high war" since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"I take full responsibility and will obey all decisions. I wish I could die and not have to witness such an accident," General Hajizadeh added.

Iran had previously admitted to accidentally shooting down the flight number PS752 of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on January 8, killing all 176 people aboard. The Iranian military said the soldiers mistook the aircraft as a "hostile target" because of its shape, altitude and aircraft suddenly turning toward a military base.

The incident came hours after the IRGC launched missiles at two bases in Iraq, where US forces are stationed, in response to an air strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds task force. Experts say that the Iranian air defense complex opened fire due to stress, time pressure and high alert status after the US air base raid.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called this a "great tragedy", promising to prosecute those responsible. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also expressed "deeply regret" and apologized to the people of Iran, the families of the victims and the affected countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a comprehensive investigation to bring justice to the victims. The US has not yet commented, while Russia calls it a lesson for Iran.