The United States military has refuted claims made by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regarding the alleged seizure of a US underwater drone in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC Navy announced that it had intercepted the vessel during what it described as a coordinated intelligence and electronic warfare operation. According to the Iranian military, the captured equipment is a REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehicle, which has now been turned over to Iranian experts for data retrieval.
REMUS 600 systems are utilized by the US Navy and various NATO member states for tasks including surveillance, seabed mapping, mine countermeasures, and underwater inspections. These modular, lightweight vehicles are capable of operating at depths reaching 600 meters and are equipped with advanced sonar, cameras, and various sensors. Following the announcement, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM), issued a statement to Al Jazeera denying the claim. He stated that the United States maintains positive control over all its operational drone assets.
This incident follows a similar announcement earlier in the week when the IRGC claimed to have intercepted another autonomous underwater vehicle, identified as a Dive-LD manufactured by the US defense firm Anduril, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has not issued a public response to that earlier claim. The IRGC Navy concluded its statement by reiterating Iran's position that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, warning that its forces would confront any unauthorized passage or military activity within the waterway.
Major General Amir Hatami, the commander in chief of the Iranian army, also reinforced Tehran's stance on Sunday. He reaffirmed Iran’s sovereignty over the strait, describing it as a "logistical bottleneck" and a "strait of our honour" that the country would not allow its enemies to utilize. Hatami further called for regional nations to push US forces out of the area, asserting that regional security depends on the removal of the United States and the "Zionist regime." He added that while Iran has won, it must consolidate its victory against an "aggressor enemy." In contrast, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he expects oil prices to decrease as soon as the war concludes, noting he believes this will happen soon.
