Russia Says US Spy Drone Downed in Iranian Airspace

Russia has military intelligence that shows that the American drone was in Iranian air space when it was shot down by Iran last week, Patrushev said on Tuesday.

On Thursday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force announced it used the Iran-made short-range and mid-altitude ‘Third of Khordad’ missile defense shield to bring down the US spy drone over the country’s Southern coasts. The incident marked the first direct Iranian attack on US assets and came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The United States has confirmed that one of its reconnaissance drones was shot down by Iraniain air defenses, but denied that it intruded into Tehran’s airspace at the time.

Iran, but, announced that the country has retrieved parts of the US Global Hawk from the country’s territorial waters, rejecting Washington’s claim that the aircraft was targeted in international waters. The Islamic Republic also stated it will complain to the UN Security Council as the United States has violated its airspace and claimed that its drone was in international airspace when it was shot down by Iran.

Speaking at a briefing for journalists in Jerusalem, Patrushev added that evidence presented by the United States alleging Iran was behind attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman was poor quality and unprofessional.

Washington has recently claimed that Tehran is responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, without providing any reliable proof. In responce, Iran stated that Washington’s allegation is unsurprising, warning that the United States has resorted to “Plan B” to sabotage the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic efforts.

“I warned of exactly this scenario a few months ago, not because I’m clairvoyant, but because I recognize where the B Team is coming from,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted, warning that President Donald Trump’s “B Team” was now moving to “Plan B: Sabotage diplomacy” in an attempt to “cover up its economic terrorism” against Iran.

The B-Team is a reference to hawkish US National Security Adviser John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.