The U.S. military says an unmanned submersible Iran seized near the Strait of Hormuz was an older, defective drone that had already malfunctioned, pushing back on Tehran's claim it captured cutting-edge American technology. The seizure came three days after the U.S. and Iran traded new attacks in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. military said on Tuesday that an unmanned submersible Iran reportedly seized in the Strait of Hormuz was defective and carried no sensitive data or classified equipment. The statement directly contradicts Iran's account of the incident.
According to CNBC: "An underwater drone operated by U.S. forces malfunctioned more than a day ago", U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told CNBC in a statement shared by U.S. Central Command. He added that the drone had been surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations.
Iran's capture claim
Iran's Revolutionary Guard had earlier boasted that it trapped and captured what it called one of the most modern, unmanned submarines used by the American military at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, according to a translated post from Iranian state outlet Fars. Fars later posted videos and images purporting to show the vessel out of the water. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting also shared photos on social media of what it identified as the American drone.
But Centcom's statement insisted the drone was far from cutting-edge, describing it as an older model that neither collected sensitive data nor carried classified sonar or radar equipment. A spokesperson for the command told Business Insider the drone had been dead in the water for more than a day before Iran's announcement. Iranian media described the sub as a Dive-LD, an autonomous undersea vehicle built by U.S. defense contractor Anduril that costs $2.5 million each, according to a 2024 DefenseScoop report.
A region already on edge
The incident, part of the broader geopolitical risk in the Gulf, followed three days after the U.S. and Iran traded new attacks in the Persian Gulf. Centcom said it struck three Iranian crude oil carriers in retaliation for the IRGC firing ballistic missiles at two Navy warships. The U.S. military later struck targets near the oil-export hub Kharg Island, Fox News reported, citing unnamed senior U.S. officials.
This is not the first time Iran has attempted to seize an American naval drone. In September 2022, the Iranian destroyer Jamaran captured two U.S. drone boats in the Red Sea, pulling them onto its deck before eventually releasing them overboard after the Navy sent two guided-missile destroyers and a helicopter to the area.
The latest episode also highlights the Navy's growing reliance on autonomous systems in the Middle East. This summer, drone-boat maker Saronic's vessels rescued the crew of a downed helicopter in the Hormuz Strait, and the same class of drone was later used in a strike on an Iranian submarine and ship facility.
Sources: CNBC, Business Insider
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