Iran shows downed US drone on TV

Iran’s state TV has broadcast video of the stealth US drone that Tehran says its forces downed earlier this week.

The few minutes of footage showed Iranian officials inspecting what state TV identified as the RQ-170 Sentinel drone, which appeared to be intact.

The chief of the aerospace division of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, General Ami Ali Hajizadeh, said an electronic ambush by Iranian forces brought down the drone.

“With God’s help, we were able to bring down one of America’s most advanced planes … with minimal damage,” Gen Hajizadeh said. He added that the aircraft was controlled by two stations in Afghanistan and the United States via satellite.

Iranian state radio has said the unmanned aircraft was detected over the eastern town of Kashmar, about 140 miles from the border with Afghanistan.

US officials have acknowledged losing the drone. However, they said it suffered a malfunction, as opposed to any external interference.

Intelligence sources in Washington have confirmed the RQ-170 was on a reconnaissance mission undertaking surveillance on Iranian nuclear facilities.