Iran has commemorated the 26th anniversary of the massacre of 290 people in a US missile cruiser’s attack on an Iranian passenger plane in the Persian Gulf.

According to Press TV, the Airbus A300 had just taken off from the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and was climbing inside an internationally recognized route to Dubai when it was targeted by the US Navy's missile cruiser, USS Vincennes, on July 3, 1988, martyring all 290 passengers onboard, including 66 children and crewmembers.

Kobra Shahed Ali, the mother of the victim said “When my son was martyred, he had a seven-year old daughter. He left a new-born baby and a wife for us. Who is responsible for this misery? The US should be held accountable. After his martyrdom, his father died of grief. This tragedy ruined our life and left our hearts broken forever.”

She urged “We want the main perpetrators to be brought to justice.”

Following the incident, US officials claimed their warship mistook the jetliner for an attacking Iranian F-14 fighter jet. The allegation was made despite highly sophisticated radar systems and electronic battle gear had been mounted on the warship.

Washington later paid some USD 95 million in reparations for the Iranian victims and the aircraft.

The money, however, failed to placate the anti-US sentiments in Iran, where people expected the missile cruiser’s captain, William C. Rogers III, to be held responsible for his criminal act.