Iran denies Ukrainian plane hijack in Afghanistan

By Seham al-Khouli
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Iran on Tuesday denied reports that an Ukrainian plane was hijacked from Afghanistan and headed towards Tehran.

Early on Tuesday, Russian TASS news agency quoted Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin as saying that unknown people hijacked a plane from Kabul that was set to evacuate Ukrainian nationals from the Afghan capital and took it to Iran.

The spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh, denied the reports and said the Ukrainian plane was refueled in Mashhad airport, northeast the country, and flew to Kiev.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko also denied the plane hijack and said the deputy foreign minister was generally explaining the unprecedented level of difficulties that diplomats had to face in evacuating Ukrainians.

The Taliban movement seized control of Afghanistan after taking Kabul on Aug. 15, forcing the Afghan president and other top officials to leave the country.

The unexpected power grab triggered a rush to flee Afghanistan, including civilians who assisted foreign soldiers or groups and now fear Taliban retribution.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara