TEHRAN: An Iranian semi-official news agency reports the country is denying that an unmanned drone violated the airspace of Bahrain, the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

The Thursday report by ISNA quotes an unnamed official in Iran's Foreign Ministry.

The statement did not elaborate, instead urging Bahrain's rulers to pay attention to their people's demands.

On Wednesday, Bahrain said an Iranian drone has been found in the tiny island kingdom across the Persian Gulf from Iran.

Bahrain has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of encouraging the more than two-year-long uprising in Bahrain by its majority Shias.

Iran denies it has any direct role.

Iran has recently claimed advances in its technology in unmanned aircraft.