Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it seized US unmanned underwater vessel near Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that its naval forces had seized a US unmanned underwater vessel near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened military tensions between Tehran and Washington.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC Navy said it had captured and taken control of what it described as an intelligent US unmanned submarine during an operation in the Strait of Hormuz area.

According to the Iranian account, the vessel is now in the possession of Iranian forces. Iranian media reported that images of the captured vessel were expected to be released.

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The type of underwater vehicle involved, its mission and the circumstances surrounding its reported seizure were not immediately clear.

There was no US confirmation of the reported seizure in the information provided, and Iran’s claims could not be independently verified.

The announcement comes amid escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz, where the two sides have recently reported a series of operations involving naval vessels and commercial shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime energy routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serving as a major passage for global oil and gas shipments.

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