Iran has shot down two unmanned western reconnaissance drone aircraft in the Gulf, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency on Sunday.
“Many spy planes and ultra-modern aircrafts of our enemies have been shot down (by our forces) … We have also shot down two spy planes in the Persian Gulf,” said commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the elite forces’ aerospace unit. “But it is the first time we are announcing it.”
He did not say when the aircraft had been shot down, but described them as “western drone reconnaissance” aircraft. Iran is at odds with major powers over its nuclear activities, which the United States and its allies suspect are intended to enable Iran to produce nuclear bombs. Iran denies the allegations and says it wants only to generate electricity. The United States and Israel, Iran’s main foes, do not rule out military action if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.
Hajizadeh said the enemies – a term used by Iranian authorities for the United States and its allies – had been using the drones mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan. “But there has been cases of violations of our airspace by their drones,” the commander said.
Iran has dismissed reports of possible U.S. or Israeli plans to strike Iran, but says it would respond by attacking U.S. interests and Israel if any such assault was made. Analysts say Tehran could retaliate by launching hit-and-run strikes in the Gulf and by closing the Strait of Hormuz. About 40 percent of all traded oil leaves the Gulf region through the strategic waterway.
“All their military bases are completely within Iran’s missile range … We have full control of our enemies and notice any changes taking place on our shores,” Hajizadeh said.
Iran often launches military drills in the country to display its military capabilities amid persistent speculation about a possible U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Alongside the regular army, Iran has a Revolutionary Guards force viewed as guardians of the Islamic ruling system. The Guards have a separate command and their own air, sea and land units, but often work with the regular military.
An Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery was allowed out of prison leave to have dinner with her daughter and son on Saturday, hours after he had appealed to the judiciary to spare her life.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s sentence to be stoned to death was suspended after an international outcry, but she still faces possible execution by hanging.
After having dinner with her children at the same place where her son Sajjad Ghaderzadeh had earlier talked to reporters, Ashtiani said she was not tortured while in prison, adding “these are all rumors.”
“Whatever interview I have given so far, I have given voluntarily. No one has forced me. I have spoken on my own accord,” she told reporters.
Ghaderzadeh, who faces his own court case after talking to two German reporters about his mother’s sentence, told foreign media earlier on Saturday his mother had violated Islamic law but called for compassion and forgiveness.
“In my opinion my mother is also guilty but since we have lost our father we do not want to lose our mother too. Consequently, we ask for a commutation of the penalty,” he told reporters in the city of Tabriz, in northwestern Iran.
It was not immediately clear when Ashtiani, found guilty of adultery and accused of being complicit in her husband’s murder would return to prison. While having dinner, the mother spoke to her children in the Turkish dialect of their home province.
Ghaderzadeh told the news conference: “The stoning sentence is on the file but it may not be carried out. At least this is what we are hoping.”
Two reporters from the German tabloid Bild am Sonntag were arrested in October while interviewing Ghaderzadeh after entering Iran on tourist visas. Berlin has called for them to be released. Ashtiani said the Germans had “embarrassed” her, but did not say exactly why.
“I have a complaint about the two Germans who have embarrassed me. Why did they come here? Why did they come here and pose as journalists?” she told reporters.
Ghaderzadeh was released on $40,000 bail on December 12 while a court considers his case.
Iranian officials say Ashtiani’s case is purely a matter for the judiciary. It has become an international cause and more than 80 world artists, academics and politicians have called for her release.
source: Reuters
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