Iran shoots down high-altitude American drone amid tensions
Posted June 19, 2019 8:12 pm.
Last Updated June 20, 2019 7:55 am.
TEHRAN, Iran — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that “Iran made a very big mistake” in shooting down a U.S. drone.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says Trump was briefed Wednesday night and again Thursday morning about the incident. She says the administration also will keep in touch with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Trump made his comment on Twitter in midmorning.
Iran made a very big mistake!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2019
American and Iranian officials are disputing the circumstances of the incident.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it shot down the drone over Iranian airspace. The U.S. military is calling the downing an “unprovoked attack” and said it occurred over international airspace in the Strait of Hormuz.
It comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the collapsing nuclear deal with world powers.
Previously, the U.S. military alleged that Iran had fired a missile at another drone last week that was responding to the attack on two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. blames Iran for the attack on the ships; Tehran denies it was involved.
