Iran's IRGC Says It Seized US Unmanned Submersible Near Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that its naval forces captured a US unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC described the operation as a "complex intelligence and operational" effort.

The seized device, identified as a Dive-LD, is said to be one of the US military's most advanced unmanned submarines, delivered to American forces in 2025. According to the IRGC, the vehicle measures about 5.8 meters in length, weighs nearly three tons, and can operate continuously underwater for up to 10 days, reaching depths of 6,000 meters. It is designed for reconnaissance, seabed mapping, mine detection, and support for anti-submarine warfare.

The IRGC released images of the captured vehicle. In response, the US military stated that one of its underwater drones had "malfunctioned" during a survey of regional waters, but did not confirm whether it had been seized by Iran.

Separately, Iranian media reported that the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force shot down a US MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz. The US has not yet commented on that claim.