IRGC bans flying private drones in Tehran's sky

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced here on Monday that it has banned flying private remote-controlled rotorcraft, including all types of quadcopters and drones, over Tehran, Tasnim news agency reported.

The Sarallah Base, affiliated to IRGC and is tasked with ensuring the security of Tehran, forbids any unpermitted flight by personal and private quadcopters and drones, Gen. Alireza Rabi'ee, a ranking commander at the Sarallah Base told Tasnim.

The decision to ban the use of private drones in Tehran's sky has been made as part of plans to regulate the deployment of drones, Rabi'ee was quoted as saying.

Recently, a number of those aircraft have been confiscated, he said, adding that such drones, most of which are equipped with cameras, have caused security, social and psychological concerns in the city.

"Those quadcopters... can fly over sensitive, vital and major centers, record videos, and be misused by the enemy," Rabi'ee said.

Any permission for such flying objects will only be given to organizations, not individuals, through official channels, he stressed.

Three or four organizations can authorize drones and quadcopter flights in Tehran's sky, he explained, saying, for example, the groups engaged in cultural or sports activities can apply for permission to fly the remote-controlled rotorcraft via the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) or the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

In December 2016, Iran's security forces shot down an unmanned aircraft in a central district of Tehran. Endit