<p>“The American espionage drone is now Iran’s property, and our country will decide what steps to take regarding it,” Vahidi was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.<br /><br />“Instead of apologising to the Iranian nation, it (the United States) is brazenly asking for the drone back,” Vahidi also said, according to another news agency, Mehr.<br /><br />Iran “will not back down from defending the nation or its interests,” Vahidi declared.<br />Obama on Monday acknowledged that Iran was holding the reconnaissance drone — a bat-winged RQ-170 Sentinel — by saying: “We’ve asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond.”<br /><br />Iran last week displayed on state television what it said was the drone. A lawmaker said the Islamic republic was unlocking the aircraft’s software and was going to reverse-engineer the drone.<br /><br />The foreign ministry in Tehran was similarly dismissive of Obama’s request.</p>
<p>“The American espionage drone is now Iran’s property, and our country will decide what steps to take regarding it,” Vahidi was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.<br /><br />“Instead of apologising to the Iranian nation, it (the United States) is brazenly asking for the drone back,” Vahidi also said, according to another news agency, Mehr.<br /><br />Iran “will not back down from defending the nation or its interests,” Vahidi declared.<br />Obama on Monday acknowledged that Iran was holding the reconnaissance drone — a bat-winged RQ-170 Sentinel — by saying: “We’ve asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond.”<br /><br />Iran last week displayed on state television what it said was the drone. A lawmaker said the Islamic republic was unlocking the aircraft’s software and was going to reverse-engineer the drone.<br /><br />The foreign ministry in Tehran was similarly dismissive of Obama’s request.</p>