Iran says it captured US submarine drone in Strait of Hormuz - Reuters

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Tuesday that it had seized a United States‑operated uncrewed underwater vehicle at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The claim was made in a statement released by the Guard’s naval forces, which said the device had been captured as it attempted to transit the narrow waterway.

The captured platform is described as a sea‑drone, an unmanned submarine used for surveillance and other military purposes. Officials said the drone provided a rare opportunity to examine the technology employed by the United States in underwater operations, though specific technical details were not disclosed.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and incidents in the area have heightened regional tensions. Iran and the United States have been engaged in a series of confrontations over maritime security in recent months, and the seizure adds a new dimension to the ongoing dispute.

Iranian authorities indicated that the drone was taken after it entered Iranian territorial waters without permission. They asserted that the capture was lawful under international law and that the device would be examined by Iranian experts. No further comment was provided regarding the intended mission of the drone.

The United States has not yet issued an official response confirming or denying the incident. U.S. officials are expected to review the claim and determine an appropriate course of action, while both sides continue to monitor developments in the strategically vital waterway.