Iran denies US claims on downed RQ-170
A senior Iranian commander has dismissed claims by a number of American analysts on the downing of a US reconnaissance drone by Iran, insisting that publicized US speculations about RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft are inaccurate.
On December 4, the Iranian military’s electronic warfare unit brought down with minimum damage a US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft deep inside Iran.
The aircraft, designed and developed by the American company Lockheed Martin, had crossed into Iran’s airspace over the border with neighboring Afghanistan.
Deputy Head of Iran’s Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri told Mehr news agency on Monday that it is too early for Iran to display its special defense capabilities for military forces of other countries.
The United States must apologize to the Iranian government and nation for violating the country’s airspace and carrying out an act of espionage, the commander said.
Otherwise, Iran reserves the right to take action against the US but “through our own methods,” Jazayeri pointed out.
He noted that Iran would definitely adopt measures in international circles to restore its rights and pursue the US illegal infringement into the country through legal channels.
The Islamic Republic is not an aggressive country like the US but will “respond to threats by threats.”
Iran has said that the US drone spy mission was a “hostile act,” adding that it will lodge a complaint at the United Nations over the violation of its air sovereignty by the intelligence gathering aircraft.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also said on Sunday that Tehran would complain to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) about the recent violation of Iranian airspace by the American reconnaissance drone.
Source: presstv.com
