Iranian forces say they have captured a US unmanned underwater drone near the entrance to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, adding another flashpoint to already heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the vessel was seized during an intelligence and operational mission. Iranian state media identified it as a Dive-LD, an autonomous underwater vehicle developed by California-based defense company Anduril.
The United States, however, offered a significantly different account, saying the underwater drone had malfunctioned more than a day before the reported seizure and was not carrying sensitive military equipment.
Iran Says Drone Was Seized During Intelligence Operation
Iranian Revolutionary Guards described the captured vessel as a highly sophisticated unmanned submarine and said it had been taken near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
Images released by Iranian state media appeared to show a large underwater vehicle being recovered. Tehran said the system represented advanced underwater technology and highlighted its potential for reconnaissance and surveillance.
The Dive-LD is approximately 19 feet long and is designed for a range of underwater missions. These include seabed mapping, mine detection, intelligence gathering and inspections of underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines.
Iran’s claim could give its military an opportunity to examine an American autonomous underwater platform at a time when unmanned systems are playing an increasingly important role in maritime operations.
Pentagon Says Older Drone Malfunctioned
US officials acknowledged that an American underwater drone had been lost but disputed Iran’s characterization of the incident.
The Pentagon said the vehicle had malfunctioned while surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. Officials described it as an older model and said it did not contain classified sonar or radar equipment or collect sensitive information.
The response was intended to minimize the intelligence significance of the loss, particularly amid concerns that captured military equipment could provide an adversary with useful technical information.
Anduril’s Dive-LD is built to operate autonomously for extended periods and can reportedly remain underwater for up to 10 days. The platform is also designed to reach depths of roughly 6,000 metres, making it suitable for missions in environments considered dangerous for crewed vessels.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Military Flashpoint
The incident comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of a wider confrontation involving Iran and the United States. The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally passing through it.
The growing use of underwater drones reflects a broader shift in naval warfare. Uncrewed vessels can conduct surveillance, search for mines and monitor maritime activity without placing sailors directly in harm’s way.
For Washington, the reported loss underscores the risks associated with deploying autonomous systems in contested waters. For Tehran, displaying a captured American drone could serve both a military and political purpose as tensions continue to rise around the strategic waterway.
The competing accounts of the incident also highlight the difficulty of independently assessing military developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where surveillance operations, maritime restrictions and clashes have increasingly become part of the broader regional conflict.
