Iran Claims Capture of US Underwater Drone in Strait of Hormuz, Washington Denies

TEHRAN: Iran has claimed that its naval forces captured a US unmanned underwater vehicle during an intelligence operation in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has rejected the claim.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iranian naval forces seized a US REMUS 600 unmanned underwater vehicle during an intelligence operation in the strategic waterway.

Iranian authorities said specialists would examine data recovered from the underwater drone as part of their assessment of the device and its activities.

US Military Rejects Iranian Claim

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied that Iran had captured an operational US drone.

CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said the US military maintains full control of all its operational drone assets and rejected the Iranian account.

The US response directly contradicts Iran’s version of events, leaving the circumstances surrounding the reported underwater drone incident unclear.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions Continue

The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes.

Iran and the US have previously exchanged conflicting statements over military operations and surveillance activities in the strategic waterway.

Further details about the reported seizure have not yet emerged, and there has been no independent verification of Iran’s claim.

The conflicting accounts highlight the continuing military and security tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, where any incident involving naval or unmanned systems could further increase regional concerns.