DHAKA: Iran said on Sunday it had shot down an Israeli spy drone that was heading for its Natanz nuclear enrichment site.

Iranian media reported, says The Jerusalem Post.

‘The downed aircraft was of the stealth, radar-evasive type and it intended to penetrate the off-limits nuclear area in Natanz ... but was targeted by a ground-to-air missile before it managed to enter the area,’ state news agency ISNA said, citing a statement by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The Natanz facility is one issue at the heart of a long-running dispute between Iran and countries that believe it is seeking nuclear weapons capability, something Tehran denies.

Iran and six world powers are trying to negotiate an end to the standoff which has led to damaging economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.

Israel, assumed to have the Middle East’s only atomic arsenal, demands Iran should be stripped of all nuclear technologies, something Tehran rules out and which most foreign diplomats deem unrealistic.

Israel and the West suspect Iran of planning to build a nuclear bomb. In the past, Iran has often accused its Western and Israeli foes of trying to sabotage its nuclear program, which Tehran says is peaceful.

Iran has accused Israel and its allies in the West of assassinating its nuclear scientists and attacking its nuclear sites with computer viruses.

Israel has always declined comment on such accusations and on Sunday its military said it did not comment on foreign reports.

BDST: 2155 HRS, AUG 24, 2014