Thursday, Feb 17, 2005
Iran confirms U.S. air surveillance
TEHERAN, FEB. 16. The United States has been flying spy drones over Iran's nuclear sites, the Intelligence Minister, Ali Yunesi, said on Wednesday, confirming for the first time reports of American unmanned surveillance craft over Iran.
"Most of the shining objects that our people see over Iran's airspace are American spying equipment used to spy on Iran's nuclear and military facilities,"' the Minister said.
His remarks to reporters confirmed a report in The Washington Post on Sunday that quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying the drones have been flying over Iran for nearly a year to seek evidence of nuclear weapons programs.
"U.S. spying activities over Iranian airspace have been going since a long time ago," Mr. Yunesi said. The Iranian air force was ordered in December to shoot down any unknown or suspicious flying objects in Iran's airspace.
At the time, there were reports in Iranian newspapers that Iran had discovered spying devices in the pilotless planes that its air defence force had shot down.
"If any of the bright objects come close, they will definitely meet our fire. We possess the necessary equipment to confront them,'' Mr. Yunesi said.
Last month, Mr. Yunesi said that the United States had been conducting aerial surveillance, but he neither mentioned drones nor nuclear and military sites.
Iranian media has been gripped by a kind of "flying object" fever with dozens of reported sightings in recent weeks. — AP
Copyright © 2005, The Hindu.