Report: Iranian official says drone that crashed was locally made and not foreign

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian media are reporting a reconnaissance drone that crashed in the country's southwest was Iranian made, and not foreign as initially thought.

Several newspapers Sunday quoted Reza Nejati, governor of Shoush, a town near the crash site, as saying the Iranian drone crashed because of technical failure.

Nejati said the drone was on a regular assignment when it crashed on Friday morning. He said authorities transferred remaining parts of the drone from the site.

He did not elaborate, but the area is close to the Iraqi border.

Earlier reports said the unmanned aircraft was foreign, without specifying its country of origin.

Since 1992, Iran has been developing a self-sufficiency military program under which it produces missiles, submarines, tanks and aircraft.