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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it captured an advanced, unmanned US submarine drone at the entrance to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC said the underwater vehicle was seized during a “complex intelligence and operational” mission and described it as one of the most modern unmanned submarines operated by the US military.
Iranian state media said the system had been equipped with advanced underwater technology and entered US service in 2025.
Iranian reports identified the vessel as a Dive-LD, a large autonomous underwater vehicle manufactured by US defence company Anduril.
The roughly 5.8-metre-long system can be used for mine detection, seabed mapping, intelligence gathering and inspection of underwater cables and pipelines.
However, the US military disputed Iran’s characterization of the drone.
A US Central Command spokesperson said the underwater vehicle had malfunctioned more than a day before Iran announced its capture.
The US said it was an older model and did not carry classified sonar or radar equipment or sensitive technology.
The reported seizure comes amid sharply escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route.
The waterway normally carries around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
The incident adds another dimension to the confrontation, highlighting the growing use of unmanned underwater systems for surveillance, mine-clearing and other military operations in the strategically important waterway.
