US Navy Unmanned Submarine Allegedly Taken by Iran in Strategic Waters

Tehran, September 9 – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy declared that it has captured an American unmanned submarine operating in the Hormoz Strait, a crucial maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. According to IRGC officials, the vessel—classified as a “Dive‑LD” underwater drone—was intercepted as it attempted to pass through the strait’s entry zone.

The IRGC described the operation as a “highly coordinated intelligence and military mission,” stating that the drone represents the most advanced underwater technology currently fielded by the United States. Photographs of the seized platform are expected to be released in the next few hours, officials said.

In addition to the submarine capture, the IRGC also reported that its air‑defence units shot down a U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drone that had been operating over the waterway. The United States responded by attributing the drone’s loss to a technical malfunction that occurred while conducting a routine survey of regional waters on the preceding day. The U.S. did not confirm whether the unmanned submarine had indeed been taken into Iranian custody.

President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated Tehran’s unwavering resolve to resist any form of aggression, stating that Iran will maintain its defensive posture until the “invaders” fully regret their actions. Raisi emphasized that Iran has consistently opposed war and views the protection of its people’s interests and regional security as paramount.

The incident follows a pattern of heightened tension after Israel and the United States conducted coordinated strikes on Tehran and other Iranian locations on February 28. Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. bases and assets throughout the region, further solidifying its presence in the Hormoz Strait.

In June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities, setting a 60‑day deadline for negotiations to reach a final agreement. That deadline expired on August 17, and the recent developments have left the future of those negotiations uncertain.