Archive · 28 Sep 2026
United States Military Denies Iran's Underwater Drone Capture
Iran says its military captured an American underwater drone in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says the drone was used for spying.
Iran says it caught the drone using intelligence and electronic warfare.
It identified the vehicle as a REMUS 600 and a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish.
The United States military rejects this story.
A United States Central Command spokesman said all American unmanned systems are accounted for.
He called Iran’s claim “clearly desperate.”
The two countries therefore disagree about whether the drone was captured.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it captured a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC identified the vehicle as a REMUS 600, later described as a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish.
Iran said the operation used military intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities.
The IRGC claimed the vehicle was conducting espionage in the strategic waterway.
United States Central Command denied the claim, saying all American unmanned systems remain accounted for and under positive control.
- Who
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the United States military, represented by United States Central Command.
- What
- Iran claimed it captured an American unmanned underwater surveillance vehicle; the United States denied the claim.
- When
- The statements were reported on Sunday, with the United States response described as occurring on Sunday local time.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Iran said the vehicle was conducting espionage; the IRGC said its capture involved intelligence and electronic warfare.
Iranian Claim
United States Denial
Whether the drone was captured
Iranian Claim
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy trapped and seized an advanced American unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
United States Denial
United States Central Command said all American unmanned systems operating in the region remain accounted for and under positive control.
Purpose of the vehicle
Iranian Claim
Iran said the vehicle was operating for espionage in the strategic waterway.
United States Denial
The United States response disputed the capture claim but did not provide a different public explanation for the vehicle’s mission in the report.
How the operation occurred
Iranian Claim
The IRGC said military intelligence and electronic warfare enabled a coordinated and complex capture.
United States Denial
The United States Central Command spokesman characterized Iran’s claim as “clearly desperate.”
- Claiming side
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy
- Denied by
- United States Central Command
- Reported vehicle
- REMUS 600; later identified as a Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish
- Location
- Strait of Hormuz
- Iranian explanation
- The vehicle was allegedly conducting espionage
- Reported Iranian methods
- Military intelligence and electronic warfare
- U.S. position
- All operational American unmanned systems remain accounted for and under positive control