TEHRAN, Iran—Iran's defense minister said Friday that a U.S.
drone violated Iranian airspace a week ago when Pentagon says
the pilotless aircraft came under fire. The U.S. maintains the
drone was over international waters.  "Last week, an unknown
aircraft entered Iran's airspace in the Persian Gulf," said Gen.
Ahmad Vahidi. "It was forced to leave on time by a wise and
strong reaction on the part of the Iranian armed forces."
Vahidi's remarks came a day after the Pentagon said an Iranian
military plane fired on—at least twice—but did not hit, an
unarmed U.S. drone a week ago. A Pentagon spokesman said the
pilotless aircraft was in international airspace over the
Persian Gulf and returned to base unharmed.  The shooting in the
Gulf, which occurred just before 5 a.m. (0900 GMT) on Nov. 1,
was unprecedented, though it marked the second incident
involving a U.S. drone and Iran.   Vahidi, the Iranian defense
minister, was quoted Friday by the country's official IRNA news
agency as saying last week's incident "pro