Iran Shows Off Captured US Drone On State TV

Iran has put an American drone on display on state television after it crashed earlier this week.

The two-minute video shows the craft with men in military uniform examining it.

The US has confirmed it lost control of the drone, which it is believed was being used for the surveillance of nuclear facilities in Tehran.

Iranian officials said they had brought the RQ-170 Sentinel down with an electronic attack, but that claim was rejected by Washington.

In the footage, the drone appears to be mostly intact, meaning sensitive American technology is now in Iranian hands.

Officials are believed to be concerned that scientists may be able to discover the chemical composition of the radar-detecting paint it uses, and also the optics system which allows for clear views from tens of thousands of feet.

Pentagon officials have so far refused to officially comment on the incident.

The Sentinel, which has been used in Afghanistan for several years, was also deployed to monitor Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan during the raid which killed the al Qaeda figurehead.

For the filming, the Iranians placed a modified American flag by the craft with the stars replaced by skulls.

Alongside that was a banner with a quote from Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, which said: "The US cannot do a damn thing."

The incident comes as America leads several other nations in pushing for stronger sanctions against Tehran.