Pompeo accuses Iran of spreading ‘blatant disinformation’ on downing of drone

By Amanda Erickson June 23 at 3:36 PM

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday accused Iran of sowing “pure and blatant disinformation” about the downing of an unmanned U.S. drone last week.

Iran shot down the RQ-4A Global Hawk, a surveillance drone, Thursday morning. Iranian officials say the move was necessary because the drone entered Iranian territorial airspace. The United States has denied that claim.

In his remarks Sunday, Pompeo pushed back vociferously, accusing Iranian leaders of “selling” false information. Pompeo called the map tweeted by Iran’s foreign minister, which purported to show the drone’s path into Iranian airspace, “childlike” and said U.S. intelligence services “should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind about where that unarmed vehicle was.”

Pompeo also urged reporters to ignore Iran’s claims.

“We need to make sure that every news outlet, everyone who is observing this, understands what’s true and what the Iranian regime wants you to believe,” he said.

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