The United States military has rejected a claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that Iranian forces captured an advanced American underwater drone operating in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, adding another point of tension between Washington and Tehran.
The dispute emerged after the IRGC Navy announced that it had intercepted an unmanned underwater vehicle during what Iranian officials described as a coordinated intelligence and electronic-warfare operation. Iranian authorities said the vehicle had been taken into Iranian custody and handed over to specialists who would examine it and attempt to recover information from the system.
Iranian report initially identified the vehicle as a REMUS 600, an autonomous underwater system used for missions including surveillance, seabed mapping, mine-countermeasure operations and underwater inspections. The IRGC later referred to the vehicle as a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish, adding to uncertainty surrounding the precise identification of the equipment.
Washington, however, disputed the central allegation. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, Capt. Tim Hawkins, said the United States maintained “positive control” of its operational drone assets. The statement directly contradicted Iran’s account that an American underwater vehicle had been seized.
The conflicting accounts have emerged as military and maritime tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically significant waterways. The narrow passage connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is an important route for international energy shipments. Any prolonged disruption or confrontation in the area could therefore have wider implications for shipping, energy markets and regional security.
Iran has continued to assert that the waterway is subject to restrictions on certain military and maritime activities. The IRGC has also described the area as a zone where Iranian forces are actively monitoring American underwater systems.
The United States has not publicly confirmed the loss or capture of the drone described by Iran. As a result, the competing claims remain unresolved based on the publicly available information.
The episode illustrates how rapidly military incidents and conflicting statements can intensify tensions in the Gulf. With American and Iranian forces operating in close proximity, reports involving unmanned systems, surveillance operations and maritime movements are likely to receive close international attention.
For now, the key disagreement remains straightforward: Iran says it captured an advanced American underwater drone, while the United States says its operational drone assets remain under its control. Tap to read more 👉https://omg10.com/4/11934173