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IRGC Navy Seizes US Unmanned Submersible in Strait of Hormuz — AI-generated representative image: A naval vessel carrying an unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, illustrating reported maritime tensions.

Editorial Team

Iran captures an Anduril Dive-LD underwater drone amid rising maritime tensions with the United States

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Tuesday that it intercepted and captured a highly advanced American unmanned underwater vehicle at the entrance of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy said the seizure was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday following what it described as a complex intelligence and operational action. The force said the submersible incorporates some of the world's most advanced underwater technology.

The capture highlights the growing contest between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes.

It also extends a long pattern of Iranian forces seizing advanced Western military technology, which Tehran has used to accelerate its domestic unmanned systems programs.

Details of the Seizure

The IRGC Navy announced the operation in a statement released on Tuesday, saying the unmanned submersible was captured in the early hours of the day. The statement said the asset had been delivered to the US military in 2025.

The IRGC said photographic evidence and detailed footage of the captured asset would be released in the coming hours.

Iranian news agency Tasnim identified the captured system as a Dive-LD, an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle developed by US defense technology company Anduril Industries. The vehicle was first delivered to the US Navy's Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group 1 in 2025.

Escalating Tensions Over the Strait

The capture comes amid a sharp escalation between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has increasingly become a key arena in the broader conflict, prompting Tehran to assert greater control over maritime activity in and around the strait.

Recent military exchanges have included US strikes on Iranian oil tankers and Iranian missile attacks targeting US naval forces. On September 6, Iran said it had struck a US unmanned vessel attempting to enter a restricted area near Hormuz.

Over the past decade, Iranian forces have downed or captured numerous high-value US assets, including the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and various underwater gliders and surface vessels in the Persian Gulf. Reverse-engineering these captured technologies has historically played a significant role in accelerating Iran's domestic drone and unmanned naval programs.

Capabilities of the Captured Vehicle

The Dive-LD is approximately 5.8 meters long, has a diameter of about 1.2 meters, and weighs roughly 2.7 tonnes. Its published specifications include an endurance of up to 10 days underwater and a maximum operating depth of around 6,000 meters.

Designed as a modular autonomous platform, the Dive-LD can be configured for missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, seabed mapping, infrastructure inspection, and mine-countermeasure operations.

What Comes Next

The IRGC Navy has confirmed the capture and said it will release photographic evidence and detailed footage of the US asset in the coming hours. Further official details about the operation and the condition of the captured vehicle have not yet been made public.