Iran confirms confronting US drone in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi confirmed Friday that the fighter jet of the Islamic republic had confronted a US drone in the Persian Gulf last week, local media reported.

The US Defense Department said Thursday that an Iranian fighter jet attacked a US drone in the Persian Gulf last week but missed its target, so the US unmanned aircraft suffered no damage and returned safely to the base.

The department officials said it was the first time that a US unmanned aircraft had been shot at over international waters in the Persian Gulf.

The Iranian defense minister, however, said Friday that the US drone had entered the country's sea space in the Persian Gulf.

"Last week, a stranger plane penetrated in the space of the Islamic republic of Iran in the Persian Gulf. Facing the on-time and clever response by Iran, it had to flee," Vahidi was quoted as saying by Fars.

The incident indicates that the Islamic republic watches every movement in the region carefully and will take effective and strong measures in due time, he added.

Iran is also considering to pursue the case using the international potentials, said the Iranian minister.