On June 22, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif released several detailed maps proving that the U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) violated Iran airspace before being shot down by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
For more visual detail on the path, location, and point of impact of the U.S. military drone Iran shot down on Thursday, and of the waters over which it was flying, see these maps and coordinates.
There can be no doubt about where the vessel was when it was brought down. pic.twitter.com/eInqIYolaS
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 22, 2019
LEGEND: blue=drone; yellow line=Iranian FIR; red line=Iranian territorial waters; ; green line=baseline internal waters; yellow dots=Iran radio warnings sent; red dot=point of impact. pic.twitter.com/Fs2jadCuoq
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 22, 2019
The new maps are in line with the first statement of the IRGC, which said that the U.S. UAV violated Iran airspace off the shores of the southern district of Kouhmobarak.
The Global Hawk reportedly took off from the strategic al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE. On June 22, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the UAE envoy to voice its “strong protest” over the Arab state role in the violation.
“Offering facilities to foreign forces in order to violate Iran’s territory cannot be accepted by the Islamic Republic … Countries cannot evade responsibilities in such circumstances,” said Alireza Enayati, the director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry department for the Persian Gulf, told the UAE envoy, according to Mehr News.
The U.S. military rejected the IRGC’s claims, stressing that the RQ-4A was flying over international waters when it was brought down. However, the Iranian military showcased several remains of the downed UAV, which further solidified its story.
The downing of the RQ-4A led to unprecedented tension between the U.S. and Iran. Washington even prepared a military strike on Tehran. However, President Donald Trump aborted the attack after learning that it could lead to a high number of casualties.
