Iran plane crash: Ukrainian jet was 'unintentionally' shot down

Iran says its military "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board, Iran's state TV reports.

The statement said it had done so due to "human error" after the plane flew close to a sensitive site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Mistaken for a "hostile target", the jet was hit by a missile, the statement said.

Those responsible would be held accountable, it added.

Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday.

But pressure mounted after the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran had shot down the plane with a missile, possibly accidently.

In a tweet, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the "horrific crash" of the aircraft was an "unforgivable mistake".