What did Iran say it seized in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they captured an American unmanned submarine drone at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. They described it as one of the most modern and smart submarines in the U.S. fleet.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important in this Iran-U.S. standoff?

Iran said it has maintained a blockade of the strait during the months-long Middle East war, and the waterway normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports. The U.S. has imposed a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.

What capabilities did Iran say the seized U.S. underwater drone had?

Iranian media said the drone was used for subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance. They also said it could map the seabed, detect mines, and inspect submarine cables and pipelines.

Iran Guards say seized unmanned US submarine drone in Hormuz

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Summary

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they seized an American unmanned submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn. The Guards said the vehicle was among the most modern U.S. submarine drones and had been delivered to the U.S. fleet in 2025. Iranian media said it could carry out subsurface reconnaissance, seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines. Iran also said it has maintained a blockade of the strait since the war began in late February.

Key Facts

The Guards said the drone was captured at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz at dawn on Tuesday.
Iranian media said the unmanned underwater vehicle was equipped for subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance.
The vehicle was described as capable of seabed mapping, mine detection, and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines.

By AFP

Published Sep 9, 2026 2:45 am KST

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Sept. 6. Reuters-Yonhap

TEHRAN — Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday said they seized an American submarine drone in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded in the months-long Middle East war.

"The IRGC naval forces captured one of the most modern, unmanned, and smart submarines of the U.S. terrorist army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn today," the Guards said in a statement carried by state TV.

"This smart submarine is equipped with the latest technology in the subsurface field in the world, which was delivered to the U.S. terrorist army fleet in 2025," the statement added.

"This submarine has now been captured and images of it will be released in the coming hours."

Iranian media reported that the unmanned underwater vehicle's main capabilities included "subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance, seabed mapping, mine detection and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines."

Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports, since the outbreak of the war in late February.

The U.S. has imposed its own counter-blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran says it plans to charge fees from transiting vessels to fund services including environmental protection, something the U.S. fiercely opposes.

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