On January 3, six days before the Boeing 737-800 operating as Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down, the United States conducted an operation to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which escalated tensions in Iran (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleimani).

With fear of American retaliation, Iranian air defense units mistook the civilian aircraft, which took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, bound for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine, for an American target. Although it was a standard commercial flight, Iran had just completed Operation Martyr Soleimani; they launched 22 missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for General Soleimani's killing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Martyr_Soleimani).

On board flight PS752 were Iranians, Canadians, and Ukrainians, sparking global outrage at Iran and condemnation. Initially, Iranian officials’ attempt to obstruct the cause of the crash not only decreased public trust but also sparked protests across the country, as they failed to take responsibility, claiming it was a technical failure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine_International_Airlines_Flight_752_protests).

Furthermore, the downing of flight 752 severely deteriorated the relationship between Ukraine and Iran. Ukraine demanded accountability from Iran, along with reparations, and labeled this act as terrorism. The killing of all 176 passengers and crew created a hole between Iran and Ukraine, escalating their military tensions and geopolitical crises.