Iran Captures U.S. Underwater Drone in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its naval forces captured a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle operating in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to tensions in the strategically important waterway.
The IRGC Navy said on Sunday that it intercepted the underwater vehicle during what it described as a coordinated operation involving intelligence monitoring and electronic warfare. Iranian authorities initially identified the system as a Remus 600, an autonomous underwater vehicle.
According to the IRGC, the vehicle was operating in the Strait of Hormuz for what Iranian officials described as an intelligence-gathering mission. The Iranian military said the captured equipment had been handed over to specialists who would attempt to recover information from it.
However, the United States has rejected the Iranian claim. U.S. Central Command said that the U.S. military retains control of all its operational unmanned drone assets. The conflicting statements mean that the reported capture has not been independently established.
The reported incident is also notable because Iran had previously claimed to have intercepted another U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. That earlier system was identified by Iranian authorities as a Dive-LD.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major focus of the wider confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel. Iran has maintained that the waterway is closed, while the United States has continued to challenge restrictions on shipping in the region.
The latest claim came as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would remain firm in the face of pressure from the United States and Israel. His comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of an Iranian proposal involving a seven-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran had previously indicated that it could reopen the strategic waterway within a week if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade. The proposal was communicated through diplomatic channels as efforts continued to find a way to reduce the conflict.
The latest developments underline the continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, where military activity, competing claims and diplomatic efforts are unfolding at the same time. Any further disruption in the waterway could have wider implications for regional security and international energy markets.