Archive · 28 Sep 2026
US Denies Iran Captured American Underwater Drone in Hormuz
Iran said it captured an American underwater drone in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed the drone was spying.
It said the capture used military intelligence and electronic warfare.
Iran first called the vehicle a REMUS 600.
It later identified it as a US military Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish.
The United States strongly rejected the claim.
A US military spokesman said all American unmanned systems were accounted for.
The two countries therefore gave conflicting accounts of what happened.
The United States denied Iran’s claim that it captured an American unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said all American unmanned systems in the region remain accounted for.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy seized the vehicle during a coordinated intelligence and electronic-warfare operation.
Iran initially identified the platform as a REMUS 600 and later said it was a US military Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish.
The IRGC said the vehicle was transferred to specialists for analysis, while also declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed to unauthorized traffic.
- Who
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the United States military, including US 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 in local time.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Iran said the vehicle was conducting espionage, while the United States said its unmanned systems remained under positive control.
Iranian Account
US Account
Whether the drone was captured
Iranian Account
The IRGC said its navy trapped and seized an American unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Account
US Central Command denied the claim and said all American unmanned systems operating in the region remained accounted for.
Nature of the mission
Iranian Account
Iran said the vehicle was operating for espionage inside the strait.
US Account
The United States did not accept Iran’s capture claim; its spokesman described the assertion as “clearly desperate.”
Control of the Strait
Iranian Account
The IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz was closed and that it would continue taking action against unauthorized traffic.
US Account
The US account did not endorse the closure claim.
- US position
- US Central Command said all operational American unmanned systems in the region were accounted for.
- Iranian claim
- The IRGC said its navy captured an advanced American unmanned underwater vehicle.
- Initial Iranian identification
- Iran initially identified the platform as a REMUS 600.
- Later identification
- The IRGC later said the vehicle was a US military Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish.
- Reported method
- Iran described the operation as coordinated and involving intelligence and electronic warfare.
- Vehicle disposition
- The IRGC said the vehicle was handed to military specialists to analyze and recover stored data.
- Strait warning
- The IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned against unauthorized maritime traffic.