Tehran rebuffs U.S. request for return of drone

TEHRAN, Dec. 14 (MNA) – U.S. President Barack Obama’s request that Iran return the U.S. spy drone shows that he has adopted a policy of evasion, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said. Obama, during a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Washington on December 12, said, “We have asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond.” Mehmanparast, who was speaking during his regular press briefing on Tuesday, stated, “Obama, instead of offering a formal apology and accepting the violation committed, has made such a request and has adopted a policy of evasion.” “It seems that Mr. Obama has forgotten that this aircraft had violated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s airspace and had been on a spying mission,” he added. Mehmanparast also said, “International regulations were violated through this measure, and intervention has been made in our country’s internal affairs.” “They (the Americans) must be held accountable for the violation of international regulations… We will not budge an inch on the issue. Mr. Obama is trying to be blind to what has happened, but we should ask him this question: ‘Would they have adopted the same attitude if the airspace of the United States had been violated?’” “The U.S. measure was in violation of our country’s airspace and endangers international peace and security, and the Americans should accept the consequences and responsibilities of crossing into Iran’s airspace,” Mehmanparast said.