U.S. drones reported in Iranian airspace
{{Iran nuclear program}}
{{date|February 14, 2005}}

Three [[United States|U.S.]]-government sources have reported the existence of U.S. [[w:Unmanned Aerial Vehicle|military drone]] flights made over [[Iran]], carrying surveillance equipment and particle filters capable of detecting [[w:fissile material|nuclear materials]]. Confusingly, U.S.-military sources denied the overflights.

Iranian military personnel said they were aware of them, and sightings had prompted a number of [[w:UFO|UFO]] reports in the area of Iranian nuclear installations. They viewed them as provocative and probably designed to trick the Iranians into turning on their [[w:radar|radar]] so that the US could determine potential targets.

Because Iran does not have political ties with the US, it has formally issued its objections to the flights through Swiss diplomats.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source
 |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12236390%255E2703,00.html
 |title=Tehran protests at US use of drones
 |author=
 |pub=The Australian
 |date=February 14, 2005
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216042129/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12236390%5E2703,00.html
 |brokenURL=true
 }}
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/13/news/policy.html
 |title=Iran warns Washington 'not to play with fire'
 |author=Brian Knowlton
 |pub=International Herald Tribune
 |date=February 14, 2005}}
*{{source
 |url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=104373&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27331
 |title=US drones 'scan Iran for evidence'
 |author=
 |pub=Gulf Daily News
 |date=February 14, 2005
 |brokenURL=true
 }}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19820-2005Feb12.html
 |title=U.S. Uses Drones to Probe Iran For Arms
 |author=Dafna Linzer
 |pub=Washington Post
 |date=February 13, 2005}}
*{{source
 |url=http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5435d964-7de4-11d9-ac22-00000e2511c8.html
 |title=Tensions remain between US and EU
 |pub=Financial Times
 |author=
 |date=February 13, 2005
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112125729/http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5435d964-7de4-11d9-ac22-00000e2511c8.html
 |brokenURL=true
 }}

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[[Category:Nuclear proliferation]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
Three U.S.-government sources have reported the existence of U.S. military drone flights made over Iran, carrying surveillance equipment and particle filters capable of detecting nuclear materials. Confusingly, U.S.-military sources denied the overflights.

Iranian military personnel said they were aware of them, and sightings had prompted a number of UFO reports in the area of Iranian nuclear installations. They viewed them as provocative and probably designed to trick the Iranians into turning on their radar so that the US could determine potential targets.

Because Iran does not have political ties with the US, it has formally issued its objections to the flights through Swiss diplomats.
Nuclear proliferation Politics and conflicts Iran Middle East