Tipsheet

Iran Deploys Long Range Missiles, US Drones Retreat from Airspace After Warning

Earlier in 2016, Russia delivered several divisions of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran and now Tehran is deploying those same systems to the Fordo nuclear facility according to state television.  

"Protecting nuclear facilities is paramount in all circumstances," said General Farzad Esmaili, commander of Iran's air defenses.  "Today, Iran's sky is one of the most secure in the region."

He added that "continued opposition and hype on the S-300 or the Fordo site are examples of the viciousness of the enemy."

The Fordo site, hidden into a mountain near the city of Qom, is one of Iran's numerous nuclear enrichment plants.

Within 24 hours after transferring the missiles, Iran's military detected a U.S. drone entering Iranian airspace on Monday and issued a warning for it to leave.  The drone immediately retreated from its course according to Iran's Tasnim news agency

"Iran's army air defense detected and warned an American drone in the eastern airspace of the country. It was coming from Afghanistan. The drone left the area," the report says.

Iran continues to stand strong in its defense of the Persian Gulf, declaring last Thursday that "if any foreign vessel enters our waters, we warn them, and if it's an invasion, we confront."  Subsequently, the Iranian navy successfully intercepted a U.S. destroyer, followed by a verbal warning from U.S. officials.