Related News
Iran: Obama should apologize for spy plane, not ask for it back
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
US President Barack Obama should apologize for sending an unmanned spy plane into Iranian territory rather than asking for it back after it was seized, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday.
Iran announced on December 4 that it had downed the spy plane in the east of the country, near Afghanistan. It has since shown the aircraft on television and said it is close to cracking its secrets.
On Monday, Obama told a news conference: "We have asked for it back. We'll see how the Iranians respond." Iranian officials had already said they would not return the drone.
"It seems that (Obama) has forgotten that our air space was violated, a spying operation conducted and international law trampled," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
"Instead of an official apology for the offence they have committed, he is raising such a demand. America must know that the violation of Iran's air space can endanger world peace and security."
Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi told the official IRNA news agency: "The US spy drone is the property of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran will decide what it wants to do in this regard."
Parliament issued a resolution calling the incursion "evidence of international terrorism and a blatant violation of international law by the aggressor America," and said Iran may seek reparations.
Iran has already complained to the UN Security Council about the incursion.
The drone affair has added to tensions between Iran and the West, which accuses the Islamic Republic of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge it denies.
Iran's judiciary announced yesterday it had issued indictments against 15 unidentified people held on suspicion of spying for the United States and Israel, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Republican presidential candidates in the United States have upped rhetoric on a possible military strike against Iran, something Israel says it may carry out as a last resort to stop the Islamic Republic getting the bomb.
"It's better they don't use phrases like 'all options are on the table'," Mehmanparast said, referring to the stock phrase used by Israeli and the US about the military option. "It has been used so often it has become tiresome," he added.
Iran announced on December 4 that it had downed the spy plane in the east of the country, near Afghanistan. It has since shown the aircraft on television and said it is close to cracking its secrets.
On Monday, Obama told a news conference: "We have asked for it back. We'll see how the Iranians respond." Iranian officials had already said they would not return the drone.
"It seems that (Obama) has forgotten that our air space was violated, a spying operation conducted and international law trampled," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
"Instead of an official apology for the offence they have committed, he is raising such a demand. America must know that the violation of Iran's air space can endanger world peace and security."
Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi told the official IRNA news agency: "The US spy drone is the property of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran will decide what it wants to do in this regard."
Parliament issued a resolution calling the incursion "evidence of international terrorism and a blatant violation of international law by the aggressor America," and said Iran may seek reparations.
Iran has already complained to the UN Security Council about the incursion.
The drone affair has added to tensions between Iran and the West, which accuses the Islamic Republic of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge it denies.
Iran's judiciary announced yesterday it had issued indictments against 15 unidentified people held on suspicion of spying for the United States and Israel, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Republican presidential candidates in the United States have upped rhetoric on a possible military strike against Iran, something Israel says it may carry out as a last resort to stop the Islamic Republic getting the bomb.
"It's better they don't use phrases like 'all options are on the table'," Mehmanparast said, referring to the stock phrase used by Israeli and the US about the military option. "It has been used so often it has become tiresome," he added.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
