Iran's air force commander earlier said the country has also tracked a U.S. aircraft, which was manned with 35 crew members. General Amirali Hajizadeh said they could have targeted that plane, but chose to hit the unmanned aircraft. He added warnings have been sent to the U.S. drone before the hit but received no response. Thursday's downing has seen tensions between the two rivals spike even further. CGTN's Hossein Nematzade has the details.

On Thursday morning, Iran's revolutionary guards shot down one of the U.S. military's most sophisticated drones. Iran said the Global Hawk was on a spy mission over its sovereign territory and condemned the U.S. violation of its airspace. The chief commander of the revolutionary guards warned against U.S. aggression and emphasized that the downing of the U.S. drone is a message to Washington.

MAJOR GENERAL HOSSEIN SALAMI IRGC COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF "Shooting down a U.S. spy drone gives a clear, obvious, decisive, quick and precise message which is that defenders of the border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond with a tough and final reaction to any aggression. Our borders are our redline." 

It's the latest in a series of incidents in recent days in the Persian Gulf amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States raising concerns of a wider military conflict. However, both sides said they do not want war.

MAJOR GENERAL HOSSEIN SALAMI IRGC COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF "We do not intend to go to war with any country but we are fully prepared for that."

Western media have carried reports claiming that President Trump approved a limited military action against Iran but called off the operation at the last minute.

HOSSEIN KANANI MOGHADAM FORMER IRGC COMMANDER "If America takes any military action against Iran, Iran will not take reciprocal action but all U.S. military bases in the region will be targeted and it will turn into a widespread conflict."

Hours after the incident, the IRGC published more details it says prove that the drone was shot over Iranian territory. And on Friday it published images of sections of the downed drone. Iran says it hit the drone with a domestically made air defense system. 

HOSSEIN KANANI MOGHADAM FORMER IRGC COMMANDER "Americans always consider themselves superior when it comes to military power. Their threats are based on the belief they have a superior air force. But this showed that they are unware of Iran's power."

Tensions have risen since President Trump abandoned U.S. commitments under the nuclear deal and imposed an ever-tightening blockade, seeking to destroy Iran's economy. The United States is trying to force all other countries to stop buying Iranian oil.

HOSSEIN KANANI MOGHADAM FORMER IRGC COMMANDER "Iran said tension should be reduced and we have a responsibility to keep the Hormouz strait safe. But if this route is not secure for us, it will not be secure for anybody. This is a very clear response and message to the Americans."

HOSSEIN NEMATZADE TEHRAN "Experts say the rise of tensions and the risk of war is the inevitable consequence of the U.S. exit from the nuclear deal and Trump's maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic republic. Hossein Nematzade, CGTN, Tehran."