Aberoumand attributed claims the drone was made by Iran to a “psychological operation” by Israel, but did not confirm or deny them. “The Zionist regime (Israel) has many enemies,” he added.

Israel has threatened to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites if diplomatic efforts fail to stop the nuclear work it believes is aimed at getting weapons capability, a charge Tehran denies.

Iran has responded with threats to attack U.S. military bases in the region and retaliate against Israel if attacked.

CYBER ATTACK

Mohammad Reza Golshani, head of information technology for the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, told Iran’s Mehr news agency Iranian experts had been able to repel the cyber attack on the information networks on offshore oil and gas platforms.

“This attack was planned by the regime occupying Jerusalem (Israel) and a few other countries,” Golshani said. Telephone communications on the platforms were now normal.

In an unrelated blow to Iran’s energy exports, the gas flow on a pipeline carrying Iranian natural gas to Turkey was halted on Monday by an explosion in eastern Turkey, where Kurdish militants have claimed repeated pipeline attacks in the past.

Iran, the world’s No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened cyber security since 2010 when its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit by the Stuxnet computer worm, which it blames on Israel or the United States. Neither has acknowledged planting the worm.

Iran has reported several computer attacks in recent months and a Revolutionary Guard commander said last month the country would defend itself in case of a “cyber war”.