Iran says U.S. drone was spying on oil tankers - report
Iran believes a U.S. drone targeted by its forces this month was
gathering intelligence on oil tankers off its shores, Iranian
Revolutionary Guard commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said, Mehr news
agency reported.
Washington reportedly said Iranian warplanes opened fire on an
unarmed U.S. drone over international waters on Nov. 1. Iran said
it had repelled an aircraft violating its airspace.
The incident underlined the risk of escalation in tensions between
the United States and Iran in an ongoing dispute over Tehran's
nuclear program.
"The drone was flying near Kharg Island and our understanding is
that ... it was gathering economic information and intelligence on
Kharg Island and oil tankers [in the area]," Hajizadeh noted.
Kharg, 25 kilometers off the Iranian mainland, is the Islamic
Republic's main export terminal for its oil.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has some red lines that the Americans
should understand and respect. If they do it again they can expect
an even stronger response," he added.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said last Thursday the Iranian
Su-25 Frogfoot fighters fired at the robotic Predator drone, but
did not hit it.
"They intercepted the aircraft and fired multiple rounds," he
said.
In a warning to Tehran, the Pentagon spokesman said the United
States was prepared to safeguard its forces.
"We have a wide range of options, from diplomatic to military, to
protect our military assets and our forces in the region and will
do so when necessary," Little said.
Washington, the EU and other bodies have imposed sanctions on
Iran's oil trade to press it to halt nuclear research the West
fears is aimed as developing the capability to build a nuclear
bomb.
The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action
against the Islamic Republic, if diplomacy fails to resolve the
row. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear work is purely for
peaceful purposes.