Defense minister : Iran can develop drones to counter U.S. covert war

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said that the Islamic republic is highly capable of employing aerial drones to counter any potential U.S.- led covert war against the country, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday. Iran has great capabilities in all fields of national defense, including the use of intelligence drones as well as decoding such aircraft and countering electronic and covert warfare, Vahidi was quoted as saying on Sunday. The Islamic Republic can develop and maintain accomplishments even during "the most difficult circumstances and under full, comprehensive sanctions," he said. He also slammed the United Nations' silence on the violation of Iran's airspace by an American spy drone recently. Earlier this month, Iranian media reported that the Iranian military downed the U.S. RQ-170 stealth aircraft in the eastern part of the country after finding it transgressing the eastern border. The country's state TV later showed the footage of the drone. Iran has urged the United Nations to condemn the U.S. drone's violation of the Iranian airspace, saying that Tehran would seek " clear and effective measures" to end such "dangerous and unlawful acts." The West believes that Iran's nuclear program aims to produce nuclear weapons, while the Islamic republic insists that the program is for "civilian" purposes.