WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. political and military officials are denying unmanned drone aircraft are being used to spy on Iran, CNN reported Monday.
The issue arose over a Washington Post story in January that said the United States has been using drone aircraft to look for evidence of nuclear weapons programs and to "detect weaknesses in air defenses."
Sen. Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition" the United States is not flying drones over Iran.
A senior military official associated with the region told CNN there were no aircraft flying over Iranian airspace and the United States is keeping its assets 12 miles off Iranian shores.
In January, Pentagon officials criticized an article by investigative journalist Seymour Hersh that claimed the United States has been carrying out reconnaissance missions in Iran for possible air strikes as soon as this summer.
