Russian intelligence: Iran shot down an American drone last week over Iranian airspace

Russia’s national security adviser says Russian intelligence has determined that Iran shot down an American drone last week over Iranian airspace.
Nikolai Patrushev’s assessment contradicts U.S. claims that the aircraft was downed in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.

Patrushev spoke to reporters after a three-way meeting with his US and Israeli counterparts in Jerusalem. 

He said Iran has not briefed Russia about the incident but that the Russian Defense Ministry has concluded the drone had entered Iranian airspace.

He says: “We have not seen any proof otherwise.”

President Donald Trump called off a planned U.S. reprisal in response to the shoot-down just minutes before it was to take place but has imposed new sanctions on Iran.

Russia’s national security adviser rebuffed U.S. and Israeli attempts to isolate Iran and is urging both countries to show “restraint” toward the Islamic Republic.

He says attempts to present Iran “as the main threat to regional security” or to equate it to international terrorist groups are “not acceptable.”

He added that “Iran is contributing a lot to fighting terrorists on the Syrian soil and stabilising the situation there.”

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, earlier called for the three countries to agree on expelling foreign forces from neighbouring Syria. 

He says Israel will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence there.

Patrushev called on Israel and the U.S. to encourage a political settlement in Syria.