Iran Won’t Return Drone, Asks U.S. to Apologize

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi has asked the U.S. to apologize to Iran for the recent drone invasion.

Dismissing Washington's request for the return of the spy plane, Ahmad Vahidi said that the U.S. should tender an apology instead.

Their plane invaded Iran and Iranian forces reacted powerfully. Iran will defend its stance and interests strongly, Vahidi was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Iran announced last week that its army had downed the U.S. drone which violated the country's airspace.

The advanced RQ-170 unmanned U.S. spy plane was later displayed on Iranian national television and is believed to be intact.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made it very clear in a live interview telecast on Venezuelan television that the plane wouldn't go back to the U.S. and it would remain with Iran as war booty.

The U.S. fears that the drone might reach its adversaries and will be used against the country. President Barack Obama said Monday that the U.S. would like to get the advanced spy plane back from Iran. The Obama administration had officially requested Iran to return the RQ-170 sentinel back.

Iran had earlier summoned Afghanistan's ambassador Obeidollah Abid to protest against the violation of the country's airspace by the U.S. spy drone, as it was reportedly entered Iran from Afghanistan.

Iran has already written to the United Nations requesting it to condemn the aggressive moves by the U.S. and for adoption of clear and effective measures to end such dangerous and unlawful acts.