The IRGC’s drone division released a statement on Tuesday stressing that all
aerial operations in Iran’s Air Defense Identification Zone are carried out in
accordance with the standard safety regulations, rejecting the claims by the US
Navy.
"IRGC drone patrols in Iran’s Air Defense Identification Zone will continue with
precision and in a continues manner to safeguard the borders of the Islamic
Republic of Iran without taking heed to the psychological warfare operations of
foreign forces present in the Persian Gulf,” added the statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, US Navy spokesman Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey said in a
statement that an Iranian QOM-1 drone flew within 300 meters (1,000 feet) of
aircraft based on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in international waters on
Sunday night, calling it an "unsafe and unprofessional” incident.
"Despite repeated radio calls to establish communications and remain clear, the
QOM-1’s controlling station was unresponsive and the (drone) did not use any
aircraft navigation lights while it made several passes in close proximity to
Nimitz and its escort ships during active flight operations, coming within 1,000
feet of US aircraft,” he said.