Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi stated that the U.S. stealth drone that was downed by Iranian armed forces earlier this month is now an "Iranian asset".

"The U.S. spy plane is among the assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Vahidi told reporters on Tuesday, December 13.

"Our country will decide what to do with it," the minister reiterated in response to the question if Iran has held any talks with the Russians or the Chinese over the RQ-170 Sentinel that was downed in Eastern Iran around 10 days ago after it violated the Iranian airspace, Fars News Agency reported.

The remarks by Vahidi came hours after U.S. President Barack Obama called on the Iranian government to send back the U.S. spy drone.

"We have asked for it back. We'll see how the Iranians respond," Obama said.

Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast lambasted Obama for asking Tehran to send back the US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft.

Mehman-Parast also voiced surprise at the U.S. administration's demand, reminding that the U.S. should have apologized for violating the Iranian airspace and carrying out espionage operations against the interests of the Iranian nation, instead.

Obama's comments were the first official confirmation that the United States had asked for the return of the RQ-70 drone that was downed by Iran over a week ago.

During the last ten days, Pentagon and State Department officials have repeatedly claimed that they were unaware of any efforts by the American government to contact Iran to have the drone returned to the U.S.