TEHRAN, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran on Wednesday confirmed a recent report that US spy drones had been frequently flying over Iran's nuclear and military facilities for the past year.

   "Most of the shining objects emerging in our airspace are US surveillance crafts, and they are aimed to spy on Iran's nuclear and military facilities," Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi told reporters.

   The Washington Post on Sunday reported that the United States had been sending unmanned surveillance aircraft over Iran's territory for nearly a year in order to get information about Iran's nuclear programs to prove that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons.

   Iranian media also said during recent weeks that numerous unknown objects were witnessed flying over the sites of the country's nuclear facilities.

   Yunesi said the US had not found anything to support its accusation so far and would not do so in the future.

   "Our nuclear activities are all transparent and legal," he said, adding "With the necessary equipment, we are capable of shooting them down."

   The United States accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons and threatened with military strikes over Iran's nuclear program which Tehran said was for peaceful purposes.

   On Jan. 16, the New Yorker magazine reported that American commandos had entered the Iranian territory to carry out reconnaissance for future military operations. The White House
denied the report.  Enditem